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As billions worldwide celebrated on Wednesday with dreams for 2025, Gazans were left yearning for a past peace that has been shattered by more than a year of violence.
Many in the devastated enclave expressed little hope for the coming 12 months, with fighting raging and floodwater surrounding their makeshift camps. Hope is a luxury, while survival is the daily reality, Gazans told The National, with most talking of a simple desire to return to life as it was before war broke out with Israel in October 2023.
Leena Abu Saif, a 24-year-old sheltering in a tent in Mawasi near Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, lived in a villa with her family before she was displaced by the conflict. Her life had been filled with plans for the future, including her wedding, which had been set for April 2024.
“All I hope for is an end to the war and a peaceful time – just enough to reclaim our humanity,” she told The National, her voice trembling with emotion.
At least 1.9 million people – about 90 per cent of Gaza's population – have been internally displaced by the war, according to the UN. Many have been forced to move several times. Intense winter cold and heavy rain across the enclave in recent days have added further misery.
“Every night, we think about where to hide. We pick a corner we hope will be safe from missiles, just to keep ourselves alive,” said Amira Nassar, 26.
She has lost a close family friend to the violence, burned alive in his tent while sleeping. Ms Nassar's family’s house was partially torched too, forcing them to flee. Despite the fighting near her home, they have decided to return to its remains in Al Zaytoon, in Gaza Old City, in the north of the enclave.
“I long for my room, my bed, and every corner of our home. I hope this war ends soon so we can rebuild,” she said.
“The past year taught me patience to the extreme. Starting over again and again without giving up has become a necessity. Strength is the only choice – we cannot afford weakness.”
Israel's campaign in Gaza against militant group Hamas has killed more than 45,500 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, and turned the territory into a wasteland of rubble and destroyed buildings.
The Israeli strikes and ground offensive followed a Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 abducted.
Gazans are dependent on an erratic aid system that is increasingly vulnerable to looting, as order has broken down. The UN's relief agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, has said aid is nowhere near enough, while a ceasefire is desperately needed, as famine looms.
In December, Israeli and Hamas leaders expressed optimism that talks brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the US could lead to an agreement to halt the fighting and return remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas, potentially opening the way to a full ceasefire agreement. But talk of an agreement has faded and it remains unclear how near the two sides are to a deal.
Ahmad Abu Maleq, 38, is stuck in Istanbul, unable to return to Gaza after leaving a month before war erupted, separating him from his two sons.
“I’m supposed to be with my family in Gaza today. Even with the war, being with them would bring me comfort,” he told The National.
“I’ve lost faith in the international community and human rights. The world uses Gaza’s situation as a talking point, but nothing changes. The past year taught me there is no such thing as justice.”
Assma Azzam, 33, is sheltering in the western part of Gaza city after being displaced multiple times. Her home in Al Zaytoon is among countless houses reduced to rubble.
“I dream of the day when those forcibly displaced to the south can return to their lands,” she told The National.
Ms Azzam is mourning the deaths of her cousins and brother-in-law, while holding on to hope for her injured nephew, who needs urgent treatment for a severely wounded arm. Despite her struggles, she maintains a glimmer of hope.
“I believe we will live peacefully again and begin the work of reconstructing our beloved Gaza. I can already picture it – a green and flourishing land,” Ms Azzam told The National.
“I am determined to achieve the goals I’ve set for myself this year.”
