欧美文化:Roundup: Palestinians wish for peaceful new year after turbulent 2022

GAZA, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- "Neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians would like to live with so many deadly conflicts," said Mohammed Abu Shakrah, a resident of the Palestinian city of Nablus.

The year 2022 has seen uninterrupted fighting between the long-term rivals, resulting in the deaths of 166 Palestinians and 27 Israelis.

Since March, the Israeli army has been carrying out daily raids against Palestinian towns and cities, mainly in Jenin and Nablus areas in the northern West Bank. The hostility has put further strain on Palestinians who are already scrambling to make ends meet.

"Because of the tensions, I was forced to leave my house for more than seven months to avoid losing my work in Israel," Abu Shakrah said.

The 45-year-old father of six explained that the tight security protocols prompted by the conflicts had made it impossible for him to travel across the borders.

"If I stay in Nablus, I will lose my only source of income that keeps my family afloat," he lamented.

Mohammed al-Nabal, a resident of the Palestinian city of Ramallah, said the year 2022 was one of the most difficult in his 33 years of life.

He said the renewing of confrontations in the West Bank has resulted in the Israeli blockade of Palestinian cities such as Nablus and Jenin, exacerbating the economic hardships of West Bank Palestinians, who are still battling to escape from the shadow cast by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both Abu Shakrah and Nabal called for a political agreement with Israel, putting an end to all the clashes in the West Bank so the locals can return to their daily routines as soon as possible.

In Gaza, the strictly besieged Palestinian enclave, people are also hoping for a peaceful 2023.

Mohammed al-Ashram, a young man living in Gaza, said the Gazans are looking forward to a reconciliation between Fatah and the Gaza-based Hamas, and the blockade enforced on the enclave can be eased.

The young Palestinian noted that some Gazans have been given permits to work in Israel, which helps them get out of their financial difficulties.

Another Gaza resident, Mohammed Si-Salim, expressed his hope to earn some money to help his family escape poverty.

"I know that we lost a lot of Gazans during the deadly wars and conflicts between Israel and the local armed groups, but we have children and families who need to live in peace," said the 29-year-old father of three.

Like many Gazans, both al-Ashram and Si-Salim believe the Palestinians should concentrate on economic recovery and reconstruction rather than engaging in constant deadly conflict with Israel.