Gaza residents pin New Year’s hopes on peace, returning home amid ongoing war destruction

Displaced Gazans in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, have shared their New Year’s wishes for peace and the rebuilding of their homes in 2025.

As Gaza continues to be ravaged by war, residents say their greatest hope for the new year is to see an end to the conflict and to return to their homes -- a simple dream that remains an immense challenge to achieve.

"Our wish is for this war to end with the arrival of the new year and for the aggression against Gaza to cease. I once had big dreams and ambitions, especially to pursue a postgraduate degree and conduct scientific research. This war has destroyed everything. I hope we can see the light of hope for the future, to once again pursue all the good things in life, like education and research, and to break free from the devastation brought by the war," said a resident named Mohammed Masri.

"Today is my birthday. I am now 11 years old. I had hoped to have a big birthday party at home. My wish for the new year is to return to my home, have a birthday party, invite all my friends and family, go to the park, and do everything I dream of," said Sarah Hassan, a displaced girl.

"My wish for the new year is to rebuild Gaza so that people can return to their homes. The current situation is unlivable, as nearly all the houses have been destroyed, whether in Rafah, Gaza City, or the eastern Gaza Strip, it's the same everywhere,” Shadi Abu Tayir said.

"I hope to return to Gaza City, to my home, and see my family and loved ones, to end this year-long suffering. We have endured war, hunger, skyrocketing prices, and flour shortages. Not just me, but all the residents of Gaza City and our loved ones, I hope we can all safely return to Gaza City. I hope we can have food, safety, and everything necessary for survival," said Reem Hannouneh.

"My wish is to live a peaceful life. I hope the war stops so we can return to our homes. Honestly, we are truly exhausted. Even living in tents would be fine, as long as we can go back to our homes. I hope the war ends and all the suffering comes to an end," Nabil Maqdad said.

"My greatest wish is to have a home where I can live peacefully with my children. We are truly exhausted. We just want to settle down in our own home, reunite with our children, and return to the old days when we were together. I hope the war stops and my children's wishes can come true. The children are like orphans now, with no future ahead of them," Gaza resident Nuha Nasser said.

"My wish for the new year is that this terrible war ends, that the gunfire, killings, deaths and destruction stop. We hope to return to our homes, celebrate weddings with our children, feel joy, and fulfill the dreams we had before the war. This war has blocked all paths. We fled from the north to the south, escaping the shadow of killing and death. In the new year, we hope for an end to the war. As a 60-year-old, I've faced problems, wars, and destruction throughout my life. Every two years, there's another war. When will this end? We hope the war ends and that, like people in other countries, we can live a peaceful and secure life and build a future for our children," said a senior named Bashir Masri.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 45,541, with 108,338 more injured, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Monday.

Gaza residents pin New Year’s hopes on peace, returning home amid ongoing war destruction

The U.S. tariff is set to have a negative impact on cross-border trade between Mexico and the United States, driving up logistics costs and posing broader economic risks, said an industry expert and transport workers.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order on the so-called "reciprocal tariffs," imposing a 10-percent "minimum baseline tariff" and higher rates on certain trading partners.

For Canada and Mexico, United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) compliant goods will continue to see a 0 percent tariff, non-USMCA compliant goods will see a 25 percent tariff, and non-USMCA compliant energy and potash will see a 10 percent tariff, according to the White House.

A document released earlier by the White House stated that Trump had signed a proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports of automobiles and certain auto parts, citing "a critical threat to U.S. national security." The measure took effect on Wednesday, with tariff collection beginning on Thursday.

According to official statistics from the Mexican government, from November 2023 to the end of 2024, goods worth a total of 350 million U.S. dollars were exported by land from Mexico's northern border to the U.S., including about 77 million U.S. dollars worth of goods transported northward from Ciudad Juarez via road and rail to the North American market, primarily consisting of fully assembled automobiles and auto parts.

Since February, the U.S. has repeatedly shifted its stance on tariff measures, leaving many enterprises uncertain and fueling anxiety among drivers traveling between the two countries.

"I have been in this business for eight years. Recently, many companies have suspended deliveries, and many people are waiting to see if prices will rise," said a truck driver.

"I feel uncertain about the future, and imposing tariffs is actually harmful to both the U.S. and our country," said another truck driver.

Manuel Sotelo, Vice President of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (CANACAR) in Northern Mexico, stated that U.S. tariffs on imported cars would have a notable impact on Mexico's vehicle and spare parts transportation, leading to a slight increase in logistics costs for enterprises. However, the uncertainty brought by tariff policies would pose a more significant threat to the economies of both Mexico and the U.S.

"I believe logistics costs will likely rise by about 10 to 15 percent. Mexico is the largest trading partner of the U.S., and also the country that purchases the most goods from the U.S. Any form of tariffs and the resulting cost increases will ultimately lead to inflation, impacting both economies," said Sotelo.

US tariff hurts Mexico-US trade, raises costs, economic risks: Mexican insiders