From one annus horribilis to another: Can greetings change our fate?

Fireworks and lightshows in Colombo as people gathered at Galle Face Green to welcome 2025. Pic by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP)

---

All the wishes and greetings for 2025 count for nothing. The New Year tradition stems from a conjecture, as humans have no record to say that time started or the Earth began its journey around the Sun on January 1 some 4.6 billion years ago. Celebrating the dawn of the New Year does not seem rational without solid scientific data. However, the custom of greeting one another, from a functionalist perspective, is meaningful as it promotes connectivity between people. The practice goes back to the Mesopotamian civilisation thousands of years before Pope Gregory in 1582 refined the Roman calendar and retained—as the first month—January, named after a pagan deity with two faces that symbolically denoted the past and the future and the beginning and the end.

Astronomically, January 1 is nothing extraordinary or different from any other day. As any other day, the Earth we call our home saw about 323,000 new births on January 1, 2025, and 140,000 deaths. Millions fell sick while many had accidents, just like any other day. As 2024 dawned, too, wishes and greetings were exchanged. They do create positive vibes, some may say, but 2024 turned out to be more miserable for many people than 2023. Ask the Palestinian people trapped in the Gaza Strip; they will tell you what an annus horribilis 2024 was for them.

Greetings play little or no role in making a year happy, prosperous, glorious, blessed, or marvelous. Happiness has much to do with one’s self-philosophy rather than any external greeting. Prosperity, similarly, has much to do with one’s efforts rather than New Year greetings or planetary positions. 

Wisdom, knowledge, contentment, simplicity, and humility are the ingredients of happiness. To think of happiness only in terms of money, gold, and stocks in possession is ignorance. Wealth comes in many forms. The man who has no place to lay his head and yet does not worry about it is wealthier and more peaceful than the royals and aristocrats sleeping in golden beds and defecating in golden commodes.

One may be rich in money but poor in generosity. Those who renounce worldly life are happier than the greed-driven Wall Street wolves. The happiest are those who keep themselves aloof from greed and attachments. This does not mean all humans should become ascetics to be happy. The virtue lies in modesty. In a life of modesty, asceticism serves as the brakes that prevent lives driven by greed from ending up in a wreck.

Philosophical rants aside, none can say with certainty that 2025 will be better than 2024. However, the trend seems to be that subsequent years are worse than the preceding ones. Judging by the direction in which the world has been heading in the past several centuries, marked by imperialism, hegemonism, colonialism, neocolonialism, racism, religious extremism, and, of course, Zionism, 2025 will likely be worse than 2024. All of these “isms,” or socio-economic ills, are deeply ingrained in global affairs. We, humans, may take pride in eradicating pathological illnesses such as smallpox, but we may never see a world entirely free from the ills stemming from greed-driven hegemony and other evil ideologies or isms. Thus, hoping for world peace to dawn in 2025 is like expecting the Sun to rise from the West.

The year that just bid farewell to us is anything but peaceful. If Shakespearean Mark Anthony were with us to witness the unchecked genocide in Gaza, he would have said, “O humanity! Thou art fled to brutish beasts, and world leaders have lost their compassion.” 

With Gaza’s babies being pulverised by Israeli bombs and starved and frozen to death in the biting December winter, while wars continue in Ukraine, Sudan, and other places with big power involvement, can anyone say that 2024 turned out to be a peaceful year as billions had wished at its dawn 12 months and three days ago?

Certainly, 2025 will also be a horrible year for the Palestinians with the new Donald Trump administration in the United States expected to be more Israeli-friendly than Joe Biden, alias Genocide Joe, as he is being derided by peace activists worldwide for his administration’s complicity in the Gaza massacres. 

We confirmed in 2024 what we already knew: that altruism, justice, and a value-driven, rules-based international order have little place in international politics. With the world order not undergoing any realistic change from power politics, 2025 will be as devoid of peace as 2024 and the years before were, perhaps except during the years that were beset by the COVID-19 pandemic. Peace-loving people thought that the pandemic was nature’s way of telling world leaders to unite and work for the common good of humanity or be ready to perish in the very sins they commit. Sadly, the power-hungry hegemonic leaders chose the latter path no sooner than the pandemic ended.

So be prepared for more of nature’s fury.

The New Year dawned with a disastrous signal for climate change mitigation efforts. Under the Trump administration, whatever little progress the world has achieved in reversing climate change, largely due to activists’ relentless pursuit of environmental justice, is likely to be undone. Trump believes climate change is a Chinese hoax, or he feigns to believe so to provoke a conflict with China. Let the Arctic ice melt, for there is much oil to be exploited there to Make America Great Again. 

He shows little concern for global warming and the sea-level rise. Due to renewed efforts in the four years Trump was not in office, some progress was made in climate talks. In 2024, an agreement was reached for an annual US$ 300 billion climate finance facility by 2035 for developing countries to combat climate change. A pledge for a global stocktake was another step forward, but with Trump at the helm of US affairs, it is doubtful whether these pledges will be materialised.

Trump, who will assume office on January 20, cares less about the sea-level rise. According to recent data, global sea levels have risen by over 10 centimetres (about 4 inches) in the past decade, and the rate of increase is accelerating due to factors like melting ice from glaciers and thermal expansion of seawater as it warms. The results will be the death of small island nations, more floods, and more extreme weather-related disasters for others.

Given these grim realities, 2025 will be a bloody year for Palestinians dying in their thousands without justice, a disastrous year for climate justice activists, and a challenging year for nations struggling to cope with multiple crises. January 1 does not write your fate; you do.

The scramble for Syria: Regional powers jostle for influence

Assad’s fall has left regional powers – Turkiye, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE – racing to redefine their roles in Syria, competing to win favor with the interim government, reviving old rivalries, and reckoning with the unintended consequences of their own past interventions that led to Syria’s destruction.

Mawadda Iskandar

The Cradle

The Syrian situation remains shrouded in ambiguity. Despite efforts by the rebel-led interim leaders to seek a fresh start focused on ‘zeroing problems,’ embracing inclusivity, and delaying decisions on critical issues, the arrangement of Syria’s future that is shaped by Turkish–Qatari sponsors and US allies faces daunting challenges. 

The stakes are high, as this pivotal phase will determine the country’s future governance and alliances. Against this backdrop, how do key regional players interpret these transformations, and what positions are they likely to adopt?

The rapid fall of Syrian governorates to armed factions led by Ahmad al-Sharaa (commonly known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani), who has rebranded himself from a terrorist figure to a modernist leader, caught the region by surprise. The de facto leader's recent declaration that “Organizing elections may take four years; any valid elections will require a comprehensive population census” adds to the uncertainty surrounding the political system set to replace decades of authoritarian rule.

States emerging from a 13-year estrangement with former president Bashar al-Assad had not anticipated his abrupt departure. Initially, their instinctive response was to support Syria's unity under its existing leadership. However, the shock of 8 December reverberated beyond Syria's borders, compelling regional powers to reassess their positions.

Rethinking GCC and Arab reconciliation 

The sudden overthrow of the Syrian government raised critical questions: Had the Persian Gulf and Arab states rushed their reconciliation with Assad? The ‘opposition’s’ capture of Damascus and Assad’s subsequent flight to Moscow exposed the fragility of their strategy. 

Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, quickly pivoted to engage with the new leadership. Hours after the government’s fall, Saudi Arabia issued a statement that it was “monitoring the rapid developments in the brotherly country of Syria and expressing its satisfaction with the positive steps taken to ensure the safety of the Syrian people, prevent bloodshed, and preserve Syria’s state institutions and resources.”

Just days before the rebel takeover, the UAE’s President Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan said in a phone conversation with his then-Syrian counterpart that his country “stands with the Syrian state and supports it in combating terrorism, extending its sovereignty, unifying its territories, and achieving stability.”

The day after the fall of Damascus, Abu Dhabi reiterated its support for Syria’s unity and integrity but also “called on all Syrian parties to prioritize wisdom during this critical juncture in Syria's history, in a manner that fulfills the aspirations and ambitions of all segments of the Syrian population.”

Egypt, undoubtedly experiencing a ripple effect with great intensity, stressed the importance of unity, prioritizing a comprehensive political process to achieve stability and consensus. 

Coinciding with their geopolitical realignment, the media in the regional countries underwent a notable shift in its narrative of events. Initially, it echoed the Syrian government's perspective, adopting its terminology by referring to the armed groups as ‘terrorists.’ Over time, however, this language evolved; the media began describing these groups as the ‘armed opposition.’ Eventually, the fall of the Syrian government was framed as the ‘long-awaited fall of the government.’ 

Regional concerns for Syria’s future 

The unfolding events have spurred critical concerns: What form of government will emerge in Syria? What will happen to factions with a history of extremism? How will minorities and former government loyalists manage? 

For Riyadh, Damascus’s collapse was a blow to its geopolitical calculus, leaving the kingdom scrambling to redefine its approach – yet it also presents an irresistible opportunity to undermine further the Axis of Resistance led by rivaling Iran. It swiftly dispatched a delegation to meet with the new leadership under Sharaa, signaling a pragmatic shift.

The UAE, cautious of the opposition's Islamist inclinations, also approached the emerging administration to explore potential cooperation, while safeguarding against the strengthening of Turkish and Qatari influence.

Egypt, grappling with internal political fragility, avoided direct engagement, limiting its involvement to diplomatic overtures. Jordan, equally apprehensive about regional instability, convened an emergency meeting of the Arab Ministerial Contact Committee on Syria on 14 December. 

Participants, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, and Egypt, agreed on “Supporting the role of the UN envoy to Syria and requesting the UN Secretary-General to provide all necessary resources to begin working on establishing a UN mission to assist Syria in supporting and overseeing the transitional process, and to aid the Syrian people in achieving a political process led by Syrians in accordance with Resolution 2254.”

Competing agendas

Hadi Qubaisi, director of the Union Center for Research and Development, highlights divergent regional priorities, telling The Cradle:

“Saudi Arabia is trying to have a role in Syria because it had a role in the Syrian war and has Wahhabi influence, the influence of sheikhs, extremist forces, and some military forces. Therefore it seeks to obtain a share of the Turkish success, so that Turkiye does not monopolize the entire Syrian opportunity. It also wants to be a partner in arranging the Syrian situation on the economic and political level, so that this achievement and this Syrian environment do not become a platform for raising problems that affect Saudi Arabia, especially in Jordan.”

As for the UAE, Qubaisi believes that it “views what happened as a Turkish and Qatari achievement, and considers that this achievement should not continue and tends to weaken and sabotage it. And because it has influence in the Kurdish regions and did not have influence among the opposition during the previous war, it will try to make the construction of this new structure more difficult and complicated.” 

The researcher and political writer adds that Egypt “sees this climate, which wears an Islamic garb to a large extent formally, as an influential factor on the Brotherhood, especially since it is going through a state of great weakness on the economic and internal political levels, and fears the spread of a behavioral infection from Syria to Egypt.” 

Stability and self-interest 

Who will ultimately shape Syria's future? While the internal dynamics of a fragmented social fabric and conflicting political allegiances will play a central role, external interventions remain a significant factor. Supportive states like Turkiye and Qatar will use their influence carefully, while others, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan, will weigh their involvement to protect their strategic interests. 

However, Qubaisi argues that Sharaa's leadership, thus far marked by pragmatism, aims to neutralize potential conflicts with foreign powers by fostering balanced relationships. The clashing agendas of northern (Turkiye and Qatar) and southern (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan) coalitions may lead to intensified competition on Syrian soil, potentially entangling Kurdish factions in broader geopolitical rivalries.

Several key factors will determine Syria’s future direction and the stability of West Asia. First, the satisfaction of regional powers with their respective positions, influence, and gains in the new political system will play a critical role. Each state will assess whether its strategic interests are being adequately addressed and if it can maintain its foothold in the evolving order.

Second, the level of confidence that these states have in Syria’s long-term stability will heavily influence their engagement. Any signs of prolonged unrest or governance failure could prompt external actors to reconsider their involvement or escalate their interventions.

Finally, the degree to which cooperation among key regional players – Turkiye, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE – aligns with their shared interest in maintaining regional security will be decisive. If these Sunni-majority countries can find common ground and view Syria’s stability as mutually beneficial, the chances of a peaceful transition and rebuilding process will significantly improve.

While Ankara and Doha celebrate the demise of the Syrian Arab Republic as a political triumph, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt remain wary of the potential resurgence of Islamist movements within their own borders. 

Islamist movements – many of which these same countries previously armed or supported, either directly or indirectly, as part of their geopolitical strategies during the Syrian conflict – may now represent a case of chickens coming home to roost or the unintended consequences of blowback.

Tehran to host Iraqi PM next week

TEHRAN – The Iranian Foreign Ministry has announced that Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani is set to visit Tehran next week.

In a statement on Tuesday, Spokesperson Esmail Baqaei conveyed that Al Sudani will engage in discussions with high-ranking Iranian officials during his visit.

These talks are expected to focus on strengthening Tehran-Baghdad relations and exploring additional areas for cooperation.

Regional issues will also be a significant topic of conversation, Baqaei noted.

On Sunday, Al Sudani emphasized that Iraq's relationship with Iran is rooted in neighborly ties and shared interests.

“Iran is a country that has stood by Iraq, supporting its political process and aiding in the fight against terrorism,” he elaborated.

Over the past two decades, Iran and Iraq have cultivated strong ties across political, economic, cultural, and security sectors.

Their relationship is marked by significant agreements in trade, energy, and infrastructure projects.

The Iran-Iraq Joint Economic Cooperation Commission has been instrumental in enhancing economic ties, notably through initiatives like the Shalamcheh-Basra railway and collaboration in electricity and gas supply.

Iran has also played an important role in assisting Iraq's reconstruction following the U.S. invasion and has been pivotal in stabilizing the region against terrorist threats, particularly ISIS.

This support has been provided through Iranian military advisors assisting the Iraqi Resistance.

In mid-September 2024, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian made his first foreign visit to Iraq since taking office, a trip that lasted three days.

During his visit, he met with Iraqi leaders to discuss enhancing bilateral relations, focusing on trade, energy cooperation, and security initiatives, while expressing optimism about their future partnership.

Tags

• Mohammad al-Sudani
 
• Iraq
 
• Iran

Iran, European Troika set for new round of talks in Geneva

TEHRAN – A new round of discussions between Iran and the European troika—comprised of France, the UK, and Germany—will take place in Geneva on January 13.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, announced the upcoming talks on Wednesday. 

Gharibabadi emphasized that these discussions are not formal negotiations but rather an opportunity to clarify issues and engage in deeper consultations. 

"We are not in the business of making predictions; we must enter into these talks to see what will happen," he stated.

The primary aim of these talks is to establish the context, method, and framework for any potential future negotiations.

This round of discussions follows recent meetings in Geneva, where diplomats from Iran, the UK, France, and Germany addressed various bilateral, regional, and international developments, particularly focusing on nuclear issues and the implications of potential sanctions. 

These talks were held in the aftermath of an anti-Iran resolution passed by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in November.

The resolution, spearheaded by the U.S. and the European Troika, accused Iran of not fully cooperating with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

In response, Tehran intensified its uranium enrichment efforts and deployed new advanced centrifuges, all under the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) supervision.

Gharibabadi recently warned that Iran might exit the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the UN Security Council sanctions' "snapback" mechanism is activated.

This mechanism, outlined in UN Resolution 2231, permits permanent Security Council members and Germany to reimpose sanctions on Iran for any breach of the JCPOA.

However, since the U.S. unilaterally exited the agreement in 2018, Iran argues that both the U.S. and European countries lack the authority to trigger the snapback mechanism, as they have failed to uphold their obligations under the deal.

"We discussed and took stock of recent bilateral, regional, and international developments, particularly nuclear and sanctions lifting issues," Gharibabadi said after the November talks. 

"We are firmly committed to pursuing the interests of our people, and our preference is the path of dialogue and engagement," he added at the time.

Tags

• Kazem Gharibabadi
 
• European Troika
 
• Iran

Missile capabilities secured Iran’s seat at negotiation table: Araghchi

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has emphasized the critical role of Iran's missile capabilities in shaping its diplomatic engagements with global powers.

In an interview with Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday, Araghchi highlighted that Iran’s strength in defense and deterrence has been a decisive factor in compelling major powers to engage in negotiations rather than resort to military action.  

“Diplomacy operates on the foundation of power, and power is constructed through tangible capabilities,” Araghchi stated. 

He reiterated that Iran's missile program serves as a cornerstone of this power, enabling the country to secure a position at the negotiating table. 

“I have said it many times, and I strongly believe that if it weren’t for our missile capabilities, no one would have considered negotiating with us at all,” he asserted.  

Reflecting on the prolonged nuclear negotiations with the P5+1 countries, Araghchi explained that the inability of foreign powers to destroy Iran’s nuclear infrastructure through military means was the primary reason they pursued diplomacy. 

“If they could have destroyed our nuclear facilities with a single military strike, why would they have bothered negotiating with us? Why would they have spent over two years in intensive talks, with the U.S. Secretary of State and the foreign ministers of the P5+1 meeting for 18 days to reach an agreement? The reality is that they lacked the military capability to eliminate our nuclear program,” he remarked.  

In 2015, Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with the P5+1 and the EU to limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed Iran’s compliance with the agreement. 

However, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA during his first term and launched a “Maximum Pressure” campaign, reimposing strict sanctions against Iran. Tehran began to scale back on some of its obligations 1.5 years later as the remaining European signatories to the deal failed to neutralize the sanctions.

Tags

• Iran
 
• Abbas Araghchi
 
• JCPOA

Resistance festival receives 3,400 submissions worldwide

TEHRAN- The 18th edition of the Resistance International Film Festival has so far received 3,400 submissions from around the world, the deputy secretary of the event has announced. 

The festival has received a total of 3,400 submissions, including 2,400 domestic works and 1,000 international entries across various formats, Mohammad Ali Shojaifard said during a press conference held in Qom on Tuesday.

He expressed that this year's festival will feature eight sections, including competitions for domestic and international films, a segment titled “The World without Israel” focusing on films related to Palestine, as well as documentary, artificial intelligence, Sacred Defense, narrative writing, and reviews in the field of humanities.

He noted that the formats considered for the festival include feature films, animations, short narrative and animated films, both short and long documentaries, and series. Additionally, the narrative writing section is exclusively for screenwriters.

Shojaifard added that submissions opened from mid-November, and the festival’s website is now available for interested participants to register. 

The screening of selected works is scheduled for March in Tehran, utilizing three cinemas. This screening will encompass feature films, documentaries, and animations.

He also noted that a separate screening initiative, in collaboration with film distribution companies, will feature 50 screenings nationwide. Furthermore, a specially equipped mobile cinema truck will showcase films in remote areas of the country, with this type of screening taking place in January and February.

The festival's opening ceremony is set to be held in March at the Sacred Defense Town in Tehran, while the closing ceremony will occur over two days in the southern region near the Persian Gulf, with the specific location still pending confirmation, he added. 

Shojaifard highlighted that the international committee of the festival operates independently and purposefully, pursuing the festival's goals with an infrastructural perspective. 

“With a new approach and the establishment of a permanent secretariat, they aim to maintain continuous international communications, transforming this secretariat into a hub for artists devoted to the ideals of resistance and revolution.”

He emphasized that this festival is unique worldwide in its mission to raise the banner of unity for the resistance front and noted that the Resistance Film Festival has been operational since 1983.

Furthermore, he mentioned that 18 countries are involved in organizing the festival, with participation from 22 provinces within Iran.

The head of the International Committee of the Resistance Film Festival also commented during the meeting, stating, "Our primary concern is currently the people of Palestine, who embody the concept of resistance and stand as a showcase of rights against tyranny."

“At the 18th edition of the festival, we must focus on the theme of intelligent resistance, which reflects a lifestyle of standing against oppression and pursuing sustainable peace,” Esrafil Kaleiji added.

He mentioned that this year alone, the festival has received collaboration requests from around 30 countries, and around 18 thematic sections for nations are being created for the event.

He affirmed that the film and arts industry can transform the concept of resistance from one of war to one of peace, expressing hope for a day when the world is free from the heavy pressure of Zionist lobbyism. 

Thus, the Resistance Film Festival serves as a platform for all those passionate about the resistance cause, he concluded. 

The Association of the Revolution and Sacred Defense Cinema and the Revayat Foundation organize Resistance International Film Festival annually. 

Tags

• Resistance International Film Festival
 
• worldwide 
 
• submissions

Kish Expo 2025 to host over 300 foreign participants

TEHRAN- Over 300 foreign participants will attend Kish Expo 2025, which is planned to be held at the Kish International Exhibition Center on Kish Island in the south of Iran during January 18-24, the executive secretary of the exhibition announced.

Mohammadreza Qaderi said the purpose of Kish Expo is to create a platform for economic interactions, with the axes of trade, investment and cultural exchange.

The country's first commercial, investment and cultural exhibition called Kish Expo will be held on the island of Kish from January 18 to 24, he said, adding this exhibition has been planned for more than two years with the aim of creating a platform for economic interactions in the form of trade, investment and cultural exchange at the international level.

About the companies present in this exhibition, the executive secretary of the event said that more than 250 companies in 170 booths will display their capabilities and activities in 16 specialized fields, from oil and gas and petrochemical, pharmaceutical and food industries to handicrafts and tourism, etc.

In the first edition of the Kish Expo, more than 300 ambassadors, business advisors, businessmen and entrepreneurs from 40 countries have announced their readiness to attend it.

Most foreign participants in this exhibition are from neighboring countries, CIS and Russia, Persian Gulf countries, West Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, East Asia and the Indian subcontinent, Qaderi added.

Tags

• Kish export
 
• Kish Island
 
• International exhibitions

Foreign ministry honors terror victims in Tehran ceremony

TEHRAN – A ceremony commemorating the martyrs of terrorism and unveiling the Encyclopedia of 23,000 Iranian Terror Victims was held on Wednesday, coinciding with the anniversary of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani's martyrdom.

The event also marked the first anniversary of the terrorist attack at Kerman's Martyrs' Cemetery.

Hosted at the Center for Political and International Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the gathering saw participation from prominent figures, including Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Minister for International and Legal Affairs; Iraj Masjedi, Deputy Coordinator of the IRGC Quds Force; and foreign ambassadors.  

The ceremony featured the unveiling of the encyclopedia and a photo exhibition detailing Western governments' support for anti-Iranian terrorist groups.  

In his speech, Deputy Minister Gharibabadi honored the martyrs of terrorism and praised General Soleimani's pivotal role in combating regional terrorism.  

He stated, "The global fight against terrorism has become a priority, and Iran, with its resilience, has faced significant challenges. Terrorism directly undermines the security and stability of societies."  

He emphasized that Iran has not only been a victim of terrorism but also a leader in confronting it on both regional and global levels.

 "Western countries' support for terrorism has created severe regional crises. They view terrorism as a threat only when it affects their interests, sheltering terrorists and applying double standards. How can one witness the suffering of Gaza's people and remain silent?" he asked.  

Gharibabadi strongly criticized Western nations for their double standards on terrorism and their support for the Zionist regime. He said, "It is disgraceful that these countries remain silent about the crimes of the Zionist regime while providing extensive support to it."  

He added, "The global public recognizes that these countries welcome terrorists into their parliaments and even applaud them."

Tags

• Iran
 
• Iranian Foreign Ministry
 
• terrorist attacks

New Year: Gazans face double whammy of Israeli airstrikes and flooding

 By Shahrokh Saei 

TEHRAN- Forcibly displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip commenced the New Year amidst continuous Israeli airstrikes, while winter rains have inundated their temporary shelters, exacerbating their hardships.

According to the Wafa news agency, Israel’s attacks on Gaza’s northern town of Jabalia killed more than a dozen people in the first day of the New Year. It said most of the victims were children. Israel also carried out deadly strikes in other parts of the enclave including in the central Bureij refugee camp.

Amid Israeli strikes, cold and rainy weather have worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The Palestinian Civil Defense said floodwaters rose to more than 30cm in makeshift tents in Gaza. It said floodwaters have left displaced Palestinians exposed to the cold and inflicted damage on their belongings.

The tents in areas including northern Gaza City, southern Khan Younis, and in central Deir el-Balah have been rendered unusable because of the flooding.

Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in Gaza are crammed into unsuitable tents, as the territory’s 2.3 million population endures severe shortages of drinkable water, food and medicines.

Hypothermia kills babies 

At least six babies across the Gaza Strip have died from hypothermia in just a week of cold weather enveloping the territory.  

The Gaza Media Office said in a statement on Monday that Ali al-Batran, an infant displaced by Israeli attacks and living in a tent, died from severe cold and lack of heating, the statement said.

According to the statement, his twin, Jumaa al-Batran, who was in critical condition in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza, also died from intense cold on Sunday.

Infants are at an increased risk of hypothermia due to their bodies losing heat more quickly than those of adults. This risk is exacerbated by severe malnutrition, which affects many Palestinians who experience acute hunger as a result of Israeli restrictions on food supplies entering Gaza.
 

Solidarity with Gaza 

Turkish people began the New Year as they rallied to express solidarity with the people in Gaza.

Tens of thousands of people in Istanbul staged a mass protest to denounce Israel’s relentless and devastating war on the Gaza Strip. The rally was organized by a coalition consisting of more than 300 civil organizations. 

Butchering babies: Several infants have frozen to death in Gaza amid ongoing Israeli attacks. 

Hundreds of people also staged a rally in Sweden’s snow-covered capital calling for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza. 

Carrying Palestinian flags, the demonstrators said Israel’s genocide in Gaza must immediately end. 

Israel began its war of genocide on Gaza shortly after Hamas carried out a surprise military attack dubbed Al-Aqsa Storm Operation in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.  More than 1,100 Israelis and foreigners were killed in the operation and about 250 others were taken captive. Dozens of the captives still remain in Gaza. 

Israel has slaughtered more than 45,500 Palestinians in Gaza since October last year. Most of the victims are women and children. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently vowed to continue the war until eliminating Hamas and securing the release of the remaining captives. But he has so far failed to fulfill his promises. 
Israel’s continued war on Gaza has taken a heavy toll on its troops. 

According to the Israeli army, 825 Israeli troops have been killed since the onset of the Gaza conflict nearly 15 months ago.

Resistance fighters still continue to deal heavy blows to the Israeli army. 

Two US-based defense think tanks monitoring the war in Gaza said Palestinian fighters in Jabalia launched a large “multi-wave” attack against Israeli troops on Monday. 

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP) said the attack involved units of between six and 30 Palestinian fighters. They described the raid as “noteworthy” and said it was significantly larger than most operations in the Gaza Strip in recent months. 

The think tanks said in a statement that  Palestinian resistance fighters also attacked the Israeli army on Tuesday using “explosively formed penetrators, rocket-propelled grenades and other high-powered improvised explosive devices (IEDs)”.

Swedes rallied in Stockholm on New Year’s Eve calling for an end to Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.  [Atila Altuntas/Anadolu]
 

The statement also said Palestinian fighters launched two rockets into southern Israel late on Tuesday.

Israel has failed to stop Hamas attacks but Netanyahu is derailing talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire with the resistance group. 

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), truce negotiations between Israel and Hamas have “hit an impasse in recent days”.

Citing “Arab mediators”, the WSJ said the two sides were considering a two-month ceasefire during which up to 30 Israeli captives held in Gaza would have been released.

In exchange, Israel was to release Palestinian prisoners and allow greater humanitarian aid into Gaza.

 “Mediators said Israel insisted that it receive only living hostages in any exchange and refused to approve the release of some of the Palestinian detainees sought by Hamas,” the WSJ said.

Amid Israel’s failure to deter Hamas, frequent attacks carried by the Yemeni army have become a thorn in the side of the Netanyahu regime.

Shortly after Israel launched war in Gaza, Yemen’s Ansarullah began hitting military targets in Israel. The movement has recently stepped up attacks against Israeli targets. The strikes have triggered sirens in Israeli cities, sending millions of people to shelters. 

The plight and suffering of Palestinians have gained increased attention with the onset of the New Year as the US and some of its Western allies continue to provide Israel with unwavering military support. 

But stiff resistance put up by Palestinians along with the ongoing Ansarullah attacks, which are conducted in solidarity with Gazans, will continue to haunt Israeli leaders. 

Tags

• Gaza
 
• Israel
 
• 2025 New Year