DAMASCUS — Excitement filled the streets of Damascus on Tuesday as Syrians embraced the new year, with many feeling it heralded a possible turnaround following the unexpected downfall of Bashar Assad’s regime just weeks prior.
While people in the capital looked ahead to fresh beginnings post-Assad, the atmosphere was more subdued along the Mediterranean promenade in Beirut. There, residents cautiously expressed hopes for the year ahead while reflecting on the ongoing struggles and turmoil afflicting their country.
In Gaza, war-weary Palestinians, who have endured significant loss in the past year, held little optimism that 2025 would alleviate their suffering after experiencing devastating destruction and loss in 2024.
The previous year proved to be a pivotal and tumultuous one for the Middle East, offering both misfortune and hope in equal measure. As the region stands on the cusp of a new year, many felt it was unwise to speculate on what lay ahead.
One resident of Damascus, Abir Homsi, expressed her hope for a future filled with peace, security, and the freedom to express oneself. She yearns for the reunification of Syrian communities that had previously fallen apart due to conflict.
“We will return to our former ways, celebrating together, whether during Ramadan or Christmas, without any divisions,” she declared.
However, alongside such optimism, many individuals were reminded of the harrowing years that preceded this juncture. Abdulrahman al-Habib traveled from Deir el-Zour to find relatives who had vanished after being detained during Assad’s regime. He visited Marjeh Square, where families of the missing have mounted photos in hopes of discovering their fates.
“As we enter the new year, we hold on to the hope for improvement and an era of peace across the Arab world,” he stated.
In Lebanon, the recent ceasefire has alleviated combat between Israel and the Hezbollah group, allowing for a brief respite in the midst of persistent economic decline and political unrest. Despite the lingering crises since 2019, the truce has permitted a temporary return to normalcy for some.
On Tuesday, families sought refuge at the Mzaar Ski Resort, situated northeast of Beirut, enjoying the snowy landscape even before its official opening.
“What has transpired lately, especially in Lebanon, has been incredibly painful,” remarked Youssef Haddad, who had brought his family to enjoy skiing. “We really hope for improvements in the future.”
At Beirut’s coastal corniche, Mohammad Mohammad from Marwahin strolled alongside his three children, reflecting on his hopes. “I wish for peace and love in the coming year, yet it feels like more challenges await us,” he expressed.
As a displaced individual due to the prolonged conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, Mohammad has witnessed significant destruction in his village. Currently residing in Jadra, he anticipates the conclusion of a mandated 60-day withdrawal period for the Israeli army following a U.S.-French mediated ceasefire.
“Our village has been completely destroyed,” he noted. This year has tested his family profoundly, and he expressed a desire for 2025 to be easier than all the years prior.
In Gaza, the catastrophic conflict between Hamas and Israel has claimed the lives of over 45,500 Palestinians, leaving widespread devastation and uprooting most of the population. Few saw promising signs as they approached the new year.
“The year 2024 stands as one of the darkest for all Palestinians—a year marked by famine, displacement, and suffering,” lamented Nour Abu Obaid, a woman displaced from northern Gaza.
Obaid, who lost her 10-year-old child in a strike within a designated “humanitarian zone,” harbors no expectations for improvement in 2025. “We do not expect anything good; only the worst,” she added grimly.
The war intensified after Hamas’s surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant casualties and abductions.
Ismail Salih, who has lost both his home and livelihood, voiced a desire for peace in the coming year so that Gazans can begin piecing their lives back together.
“The past year has been filled with destruction and conflict,” he reflected. “We’ve lost everything—our homes, our livelihoods.” Salih conveyed his wish that Palestinians could eventually “live like everyone else, in security, comfort, and peace.”
