Taiwan's opposition is slamming the government's reported intention to donate to an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. It and other activist groups in Taiwan say that it violates international norms and standards, and harms Taiwan's reputation. But the foreign ministry says no concrete plans have been made.
00:00At a time of war, controversy, and alleged human rights abuses, there's outrage here in Taipei over reports that Taiwan plans to donate money to an Israeli settlement.
00:14An opposition coalition says the supposed act of charity would put Taiwan on the wrong side of history.
00:30The issue? Reports that Taiwan's representative to Israel, Abby Lee, was pursuing a government donation to a medical project in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank,
00:58in what would be the first foreign nation to contribute financially to the development of Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, which are illegal under international law.
01:11This spurring anger in Taiwan over what protesters see as their government support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war in Gaza.
01:28As a matter of fact,巴勒斯坦人根本用不到那些医療物資.
01:33在人道援助的旗幅下,我们实际上能看到的是台湾政府会种族屠杀,输送弹药.
01:41这就是赤裸裸的共犯行为.
01:43Taiwan's foreign ministry told Taiwan Plus that healthcare is an important area of cooperation for Israel and Taiwan.
01:52It said only potential collaboration was discussed and that no promises were made about funding.
01:57The ministry added that Taiwan has already donated half a million U.S. dollars to Palestinian refugees in need of aid and that it will continue working for the global good.
02:09This backlash against the foreign ministry comes as international pressure on Israel is mounting over its war in Gaza,
02:16where more than 60,000 people have been killed since Israel began fighting there in 2023.
02:22Retaliation for an attack by Hamas that killed over 1,000 people in Israel and saw more than 240 civilians taken hostage.
02:32Humanitarian groups are warning of famine spreading in Gaza as Israel restricts aid, entering the territory of over 2 million people.
02:41Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined France and the U.K. in saying they would recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire.
02:52Canada has intended to recognize the state of Palestine during the 4th session of the Ensemble General of the United Nations in September 2025.
03:07With global attention fixed on the Middle East, Taiwan's actions in the region will be put under the microscope.
