As the sun set over the northern part of Gaza City on Tuesday evening, Izzat Al-Qawasmeh and his 11-year-old son Mohamed made their way through the wreckage to the top of a building that once housed many residents.
Surrounded by the remnants of destroyed buildings, a field of white tents where people now reside lay below. The father and son had chosen to pay a visit to the tent community bearing gifts, attired in Santa Claus outfits.
Mohamed carried a bunch of red and white balloons while Al-Qawasmeh played melancholic tunes on his saxophone – a profession that sustained him for two decades before the conflict and continues to do so today. Later that evening, he was scheduled to perform at a wedding.
“We wanted, at the onset of the New Year, to do something that would uplift people’s spirits, offering them hope,” Al-Qawasmeh expressed.
The area surrounding Al-Maqousi Towers in the northern part of Gaza City was once a vibrant neighborhood teeming with thousands of inhabitants. The streets were filled with cars, scooters, vendors, and shops, adorned with plants hanging from balconies and windows.
On that Tuesday evening, the streets were silent as Al-Qawasmeh’s saxophone melodies resonated through the mostly deserted area. Near some tents, with a pile of debris in the background, a group of children gathered as he played.
A young girl dressed in red emerged from a tent, accompanied by her smiling mother. Mohamed handed her a red balloon, which she joyfully waved at the small audience.
“Our children’s well-being is our priority,” emphasized Al-Qawasmeh, a father of three.
“I am hopeful that 2026 will bring positive changes to Gaza, ushering in a new era of reconstruction and renewal,” he added.
In another neighborhood, Al-Rimal, to the west of Gaza City, other Palestinians shared their aspirations for the approaching New Year.
“We have faced hardships during the conflict, enduring the cold and rain, but we persist,” stated 32-year-old Mohammed Shatat.
“We wake up to rodents and pests. Our ultimate dream is to return to the comfort of our homes.”
Since the ceasefire initiated by the United States on October 10, the prospect of a peace agreement in Gaza remains uncertain. Life conditions within the territory have not significantly improved as anticipated.
Despite pledges from Israel to allow 600 aid trucks daily into Gaza, statistics from the United Nations revealed that only about 113 trucks entered the region daily in October and November.
Reports indicate that over 300 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes since the commencement of the ceasefire, with 900 individuals sustaining injuries. Israel has attributed these airstrikes to Hamas activities.
Israel recently announced the suspension of over two dozen humanitarian organizations from operating in Gaza for failing to adhere to new registration regulations.
Furthermore, a leading global authority on food crises, The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), warned that though outright famine was avoided, the people in Gaza still face the threat of starvation with the situation remaining fragile.
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Florida to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, winter rains caused flooding in the Gaza Strip, inundating tents, belongings, and clay ovens used for cooking.
Despite uncertainties about the future, Al-Qawasmeh remains optimistic, believing that better days lie ahead.
“The days ahead will bring blessings, filled with joy and happiness, dispelling the gloom much like the passing of winter,” he expressed.
Accompanied by Mohamed holding the balloons, Al-Qawasmeh played his saxophone as the children in the audience began clapping and dancing along to the music in the twilight.
