As the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh raises concerns about ceasefire negotiations, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have nonetheless expressed resilience and said they expect new leaders to emerge.
Early Wednesday morning, Haniyeh's residence in Tehran was hit in an airstrike after he attended the inauguration of Iran's new president, resulting in the death of the high-ranking Hamas official and a bodyguard.
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps of Iran says Haniyeh was killed by an "air-launched guided projectile" that struck the building. The attack happened just hours after Israel's strike on Beirut, which killed Hezbollah senior commander Fuad Shukr.
Shafiq Daher, a resident in Gaza, described Haniyeh's assassination as a significant loss and said he expects a reaction from regional players.
"It's an irreparable loss, there will not be as humble a leader as Ismail Haniyeh. Secondly, I believe his killing will have a strong impact on the negotiations. We hope that there will be a strong response to his assassination, whether from Iran, Hezbollah or even from Gaza," he said.
Abu Odeh, another resident, highlighted the resilience of the Palestinian cause, insisting that new leaders always emerge.
"The Palestinian issue is always a birth of new leaders, whether Ismail Haniyeh or someone else was killed. During the past years they have assassinated many leaders in most of the resistance movements, not just Hamas, and despite that, new leaders were born. This is the characteristic of the Palestinian cause and the characteristic of the people of Gaza who live with that," Odeh said.
Palestinians in Gaza display resilience following Hamas leader's assassination
As ski resorts have begun opening in northern China, ski enthusiasts are starting to head to ski resorts for winter fun and scenery.
The city of Zhangjiakou, a top destination for skiing in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region which hosted most snow events of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, has witnessed a huge influx of tourists since its ski resorts opened recently.
The eight ski resorts in Zhangjiakou's Chongli District have a combination of over 160 kilometers of ski slopes, providing a great experience on snow for all levels of ski enthusiasts.
"I learned front blade skills in a couple of days. Yesterday I even gave it a go on black slopes. It was just a great experience overall," said a tourist.
Chongli's Genting Resort, which opened just on Wednesday, saw its 3,500 guest rooms fully booked for the weekend. The Thaiwoo resort saw visitor numbers surging to 10,000 per day in less than two weeks. Resorts are also introducing new activities such as jetski snow rides and cross-country skiing to create a colorful experience.
"I came back from America just to ski here. It's got a complete set of facilities and services – got good accommodation and food, and shuttles for pickup," said a tourist.
In Inner Mongolia's Genhe, a city known as 'the coldest place in China', it is the reindeer that draw visitors from all over the country to visit the snowy winter wonderland.
The local Aoluguya Ewenki people, known as "the last hunting tribe in China," is the only ethnic minority group in China that raises reindeer. Interacting with reindeer and experiencing the Ewenki culture while surrounded by snow-covered forests make a memorable vacation experience for visitors,particularly for those who come from the warmer south.
"So many reindeer and small animals. We also stayed in Cuoluozi (Ewenki tikis) and Mongolian yurts. That was a great experience for me," said a visitor.
Genhe's tourism sector has been developing its snow economy with focus on the city's unique natural resources and ethnic culture. The city has welcomed about 80,000 visitors since October, bringing in 150 million yuan (20.7 million in U.S. dollars) of tourism revenue.
"To accommodate tourism demands, our park is consistently perfecting our services and facilities. This year we introduced new dinning choices, such as Cuoluozi barbeque, Cuoluozi hotpot and bonfire tea. We also readied reindeer sleighs and snowbikes for tourists," said Zhao Geng, a scenic area staff member.
Ski resorts open in northern China, attracting ski enthusiasts for winter fun, scenery
