As millions of Muslims around the world mark the Islamic, or Hijri, New Year this weekend, many will use the occasion to reflect on the 12 months gone by. For those in the Middle East, as well as their friends and neighbours of every creed, it is the incredible events of the past two weeks that will be foremost in their thoughts.
Israel’s unilateral attack on Iran, Tehran’s retaliatory missile salvos – including a strike on Qatari soil – and Operation Midnight Hammer, in which US B2 stealth bombers dropped some of America’s largest non-nuclear bombs on Iranian targets, have all understandably left many in the region on edge.
Despite the tensions that persist after this dangerous 12-day war – Israel and Iran’s worst ever direct conflict – a fragile truce appears to be holding and reports suggest that Washington could re-enter talks with Iran next week. Alongside this hopeful development, there is scope for a badly needed ceasefire in Gaza; Hamas has said that negotiations to end the war there have intensified and US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that “great progress” was being made.
Indeed, progress that takes the region away from cycles of destructive violence is vital. All sides must build on this moment of relative calm to transform tentative steps and exploratory discussions into an agreed peace process with unstoppable momentum. This means addressing the root causes of violence, particularly Gaza, where the wider Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues to exacerbate tensions across the region.
In addition to the civilian deaths caused in Israel and Iran sparked by the Israeli leadership’s decision to attack, international efforts to re-energise the two-state solution were detailed. A high-level UN conference led by Saudi Arabia and France was indefinitely postponed as air strikes and bombing runs caused havoc across the Middle East. Reconvening this summit at the earliest opportunity is one way to demonstrate that a political settlement – not just fragile truces – is possible.
In a message marking the Islamic New Year, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed spoke of his hope for "lasting peace and stability", striking an optimistic tone as he sent his congratulations on social media to the people of the Emirates and Muslims across the globe. Similarly, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said he hoped the start of the new year would bring "peace, stability and prosperity".
Such optimism will be required in the days and weeks ahead. The situation in Gaza remains dire; although more medical aid from the UAE arrived in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday to help alleviate the worsening health crisis in the enclave, Palestinian civilians continue to be killed by Israeli forces. In addition, the simmering tensions between Iran and Israel will not have been cooled by just a few days without air raids and missile strikes.
A lot more work remains to be done. However, with the right will and vision such a future is entirely possible. So, too, is an Islamic New Year in 2026 where people can reflect on a Middle East that broke this cycle of conflict and embraced a future defined by security, stability and prosperity.
