Palestinians in Gaza Strip are clinging to hope for safety, recovery and the chance to rebuild their lives for the New Year, despite the shadow of war, displacement and loss.
For many displaced Palestinians, the year 2026 is a moment of reflection rather than celebration -- a pause to consider what has been lost and what might still be rebuilt.
Among them is Samah Haboub, a young Palestinian chef who once owned a restaurant in the enclave. The war destroyed both her business and her home, forcing her into displacement. Still, she says the New Year represents a chance to start again.
"I hope that 2026 will compensate me for all the losses I suffered during the years of war. I wish to rebuild my home, reopen my restaurant, and see my children return to school after being deprived of their most basic right to education. I hope our lives can return to what they once were," Haboub told China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Samah's story reflects the reality of thousands of families across Gaza, many of whom have spent the past few years living in temporary shelters. They wait for an end to displacement and a chance to return home.
"Our wish is to be free from wars and suffering, and return to our homes instead of living in these tents. Winter is very hard on everyone," said Jamil Qaddoum, a displaced Palestinian.
Palestinians are looking forward to the next stage of the ceasefire, in hopes that the new year will bring tangible changes towards recovery.
"With the beginning of the New Year, we are looking toward the immediate start of the second phase of the ceasefire, paving the way for recovery, the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces, and the opening of crossings to allow all types of aid to enter, especially shelter supplies and mobile homes, so we can provide safe and dignified housing for displaced families," said Amjad Al-Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGO Network.
For Gaza's displaced population, the New Year is defined by whether promises translate into concrete steps toward relief, reconstruction and a return to normal life.
Displaced Palestinians pin New Year’s hopes on recovery amid uncertainties
Displaced Palestinians pin New Year’s hopes on recovery amid uncertainties
The airstrike conducted by Saudi-led coalition targeting the port of Mukalla in Yemen's oil-rich Hadramout province early Tuesday morning has caused severe damage to nearby residential buildings and left locals terrified.
According to the coalition, the strike targeted weapons and combat vehicles allegedly unloaded at the port from two unauthorized ships that arrived from the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the weekend.
Coalition spokesman Turki Al Maliki said the vessels had disabled their tracking systems and delivered a large cache of arms intended to bolster the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen's Hadramout and Al-Mahra provinces, a move he described as a "clear violation" of the UN Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015.
He said the operation was conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules, ensuring that no collateral damage occurred.
However, local residents offered a different account, describing scenes of chaos and destruction in the pre-dawn hours following the strike.
"As you can see, this is the severe damage that occurred to our home as a result of the airstrike that targeted the Mukalla port, specifically military vehicles that were next to the house, about 20 to 40 meters away. At exactly 04:30, the location was targeted with a surprise airstrike, and we were shocked by the sudden violent explosions," said Salem Ali Al-Haj Zaid, a local resident.
Another resident, Um Ali, described the psychological toll on children.
"The children kept crying from the time of the strike until morning. Poor things, they were shocked, scared and unable to sleep again," said Ali.
The strike hit especially hard for Um Mohammed, a widow living on the top floor of a residential building near the port.
"We were terrified. My mother is old. The most damage was to the floor of the building where I live, and I am a widow. Who will compensate us for this?" said Mohammed.
The reported attacks come amid heightened military escalation in Hadramout, where Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have warned of possible military action following the STC's refusal to withdraw its forces from the governorate.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition called on all civilians to immediately evacuate the port of Mukalla to ensure their safety, according to the Saudi state news agency SPA.
Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout governorate, is a key port city on Yemen's southeastern coast, with strategic and economic value.
Saudi-led airstrike on Yemen's Mukalla port damages homes, sparking fear among locals
