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

Bishan District in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality is setting a new benchmark in urban drainage through its innovative "sponge city" model.

Bishan District was selected in February 2017 as a pilot for climate adaptation, and has developed itself into a sponge city.

By utilizing permeable bricks, the ground is enabled to absorb water more effectively, enhancing natural infiltration. In addition, rain gardens function as natural reservoirs, while school rooftops have been transformed into verdant green spaces.

Overall, this innovative approach not only helps mitigate urban flooding, but also contributes to improving the local microclimate -- an exemplary model of ecological urban development.

"What is a 'sponge city'? It's an urban development concept that treats the city like a giant sponge -- absorbing water when it rains and releasing it when needed. The system is highly flexible," said Tang Chuandong, a planning designer of the Western Branch of the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design.

Over the recent years, Bishan District has developed mini sponge systems.

"Solid buildings and hard ground aren't very adaptable when it comes to climate change. For that reason, we incorporated sunken areas into industrial park designs to create rain gardens -- mini ecological sponge systems," Tang said.

When it rains, water is collected in these gardens and is filtered through vegetation, soil and sand layers before being stored in underground tanks. Multiple small sponge systems beneath large buildings help disperse, manage and store rainwater more effectively. Additionally, Bishan District's sponge city initiative has made the ground more permeable.

"We've laid permeable bricks with a certain porosity. This allows rainwater to seep into the ground, thereby reducing surface water buildup," said Tang.

Tang also highlighted the ecological benefits of transforming school rooftops into lush green spaces.

"Typical rooftops are just bare concrete. But when building a sponge city, like here at the school, aside from the greenery around us, we also green the rooftop. The area most exposed to sunlight is our rooftop, right? We turned the roof into a green sponge system by laying down soil, scattering seeds, and growing grass. It's like giving the rooftop a 'green jacket'. Doesn't it feel cooler?" he said.

"Don't underestimate the small green roof. As the Chinese saying goes, 'No good deed is too small to be done.' One roof may have limited impact, but if many buildings, or an entire city, adopt green roofs, the effect on urban climate regulation could be extremely substantial," said Tang.

China's Chongqing innovates urban drainage with "sponge city" model