As the new year dawned across the Middle East, the region was filled with a mix of cautious hope and lingering despair. While some countries welcomed the promise of a new beginning, others remained burdened by the scars of war and ongoing crises. From Syria to Lebanon to Gaza, the mood varied as people reflected on the year that passed and the uncertain future ahead.
In Damascus, Syria, residents greeted 2025 with optimism, fueled by the unexpected fall of Bashar Assad’s government just weeks earlier. Many Syrians, like Abir Homsi, are hopeful that this shift in power will lead to peace, security, and a return to unity for the country’s divided communities. Homsi expressed her belief that Syria could once again be a place where people celebrated together, free from the restrictions and divisions caused by years of conflict. “We will return to how we once were,” she said, envisioning a future where Syrians could live together in harmony, regardless of their backgrounds.
However, for many, the new year also carried with it painful reminders of the past. Abdulrahman Al-Habib, who traveled to Damascus in search of relatives who disappeared under Assad’s regime, expressed his hopes for a better future but could not ignore the scars left by the years of oppression. “We hope that in the new year, our status will be better… and peace will prevail in the whole Arab world,” he said, reflecting the hopes of many who have suffered under years of war and authoritarian rule.
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In neighboring Lebanon, the situation remained uncertain. Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that brought a temporary halt to fighting, the country continues to struggle with the effects of years of economic collapse, political instability, and ongoing tensions. Families like that of Youssef Haddad, who spent time at the Mzaar Ski Resort to enjoy a rare moment of normalcy, still carried heavy hearts, knowing that the future remains fraught with challenges. “What happened and what’s still happening in the region, especially in Lebanon, has been very painful,” Haddad said. Like many in Lebanon, he clung to the hope that 2025 would bring an end to the suffering, but the scars of past conflicts still loomed large.
Mohammad Mohammad, a displaced father of three from southern Lebanon, was more cautious in his outlook. Having lost his home during the conflict, he was forced to live in Jadra while awaiting the end of the 60-day ceasefire period. “Our village was completely destroyed,” he said, reflecting on the destruction of his home and his village. “I hope 2025 is better than all the years that passed.” His hopes were tempered with the reality of the ongoing instability and the challenges that lay ahead for his family and country.
In Gaza, where the war between Hamas and Israel has claimed the lives of more than 45,500 Palestinians, the mood was much more somber. For many Palestinians, like Nour Abu Obaid, the new year brought little cause for optimism. Displaced and grieving, they had seen their homes destroyed and their lives upended by the ongoing conflict. “The year 2024 was one of the worst years for all Palestinian people. It was a year of hunger, displacement, suffering, and poverty,” said Abu Obaid, whose 10-year-old child was killed in an Israeli strike. “The world is dead,” she added, expressing her despair and hopelessness for the future.
Ismail Salih, who lost his home and livelihood in Gaza, shared a similar outlook, hoping for an end to the war in 2025 so that the people of Gaza could begin to rebuild their lives. “Our homes are gone, our trees are gone, our livelihood is lost,” he said. But despite the overwhelming destruction, he still held out hope for peace and security, wishing for a future where Palestinians could live like the rest of the world, in peace and safety.
The contrast between the optimism in Syria and the grim realities in Gaza and Lebanon underscores the complex and volatile nature of the Middle East. While some hold onto the hope of rebuilding and reconciliation, many others face a future clouded by war, suffering, and uncertainty. As 2025 begins, it remains to be seen what the new year will bring to a region still reeling from decades of conflict.
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