A boy holds a pistol as he joins protesters, predominantly Houthi supporters, during a rally in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and with Lebanon's Hezbollah, amid Israel's conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah, in Sanaa, Yemen November 15, 2024. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERS
In 2024, the Middle East saw a year of deepening conflict.
The October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel left 1,200 dead and over 250 hostages taken. Israel’s response led to the deaths of over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza, with much of the area left in ruins.
Two-thirds of buildings were destroyed, and millions were displaced, seeking shelter in refugee camps that also became targets of Israeli airstrikes.
Violence spread to the West Bank and along the Israel-Lebanon border. A rare ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in November offered brief hope, but tensions remained high. In Syria, the Assad regime fell in December after rebels launched a successful offensive.
The year closed with immense loss, including the tragic deaths of twin infants, Wesam and Naeem Abu Anza, killed in an Israeli airstrike. As 2024 ended, the region’s future remained uncertain, with peace still out of reach.
Some of the images in this story may be sensitive and disturbing.
A protester surrounded by smoke from flare holds up a poster, featuring a hostage who was kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack, on a Day of Disruption by anti-government protest groups, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Shoresh, Israel May 20 2024. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSIsraeli soldiers fire mortar shells, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel, January 3, 2024. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSThe sister of Major Mohammad Farhat, who was killed in an Israeli strike with two other soldiers on the outskirts of the village of Yater in southern Lebanon, attends an official ceremony to pay tribute to his death, in Beirut, Lebanon October 26, 2024. REUTERS/Yara Nardi TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSA police officer takes away a flare from a demonstrator during a rally calling for the release of hostages kidnapped in the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas from Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel February 29, 2024. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSA displaced Palestinian child plays amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, November 14, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSRelatives of Israeli soldier Sergeant Reef Harush who was killed in the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, mourn over his coffin at his funeral in Ramat David, Israel, April 7, 2024. REUTERS/Rami Shlush ISRAEL OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN ISRAEL TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSItai Tzarfati, resident of the Kibbutz Nir Oz, walks in front of a house that was burnt during the deadly October 7 attack by gunmen from Palestinian Islamist group Hamas from Gaza, in the Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel March 12, 2024. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSSENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB A woman reacts next to the body of a Palestinian baby, killed in Israeli strikes, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at Abu Yousef Al-Najjar hospital, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, February 12, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSPalestinians react at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, June 14, 2024. REUTERS/Abed Khaled TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSIsrael's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, October 1, 2024 REUTERS/Amir Cohen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSPalestinians wait to receive food during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip March 13, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSA Palestinian child, wounded in Israeli fire during an Israeli invasion in Jabalia refugee camp, sits in a tent inside of Kamal Adwan hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in northern Gaza Strip, May 13, 2024. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSSmoke and flames rise in Beirut's southern suburbs, after Israeli air strikes, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon, October 6, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSMourners hug each other during the funeral of Hassan and Amira Fadlallah, two siblings who were killed by what security sources said was an Israeli strike on Tuesday in Beirut's southern suburbs, in Ghobeiry, Beirut, Lebanon July 31, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSWomen carrying rifles walk on Dizengoff Square, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and the hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 28, 2024. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERS SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB A Palestinian girl wounded in an Israeli strike lies on the floor as she receives treatment at Nasser hospital, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip July 22, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSDisplaced Palestinian children, who fled their houses due to Israeli strikes, take part in an entertaining activity organised by local activists, at a school run by United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), to support the mental health of the children, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip February 7, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSA woman reacts, as protesters rally calling for the immediate release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, April 18, 2024. REUTERS/Hannah McKay TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSWomen stand next to damaged vehicles at the site of an Israeli air strike, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Beirut, Lebanon, October 11, 2024. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSA boy holds a pistol as he joins protesters, predominantly Houthi supporters, during a rally in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and with Lebanon's Hezbollah, amid Israel's conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah, in Sanaa, Yemen November 15, 2024. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSSmoke rises after an Israeli strike on a building as people watch, in the Chiyah district of Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon November 22, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSSmoke rises from Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Israel's border with Gaza, in southern Israel, March 17, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSPeople hug as they stand on rubble of damaged buildings in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Joun village in the Chouf district, Lebanon November 13, 2024. REUTERS/Aziz Taher TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSDisplaced Palestinians sit in a damaged car as they flee areas in the eastern part of Khan Younis following an Israeli evacuation order, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 7, 2024. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSA press vest lies on the body of a Palestinian journalist Hamza Al-Dahdouh, the son of Al Jazeera journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh, after Hamza was killed in an Israeli strike, during his funeral in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, January 7, 2024. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSIsraeli soldier Omri Dahan, 22, reacts while visiting a tribute to her friend Sofia Bongart who was killed at the site of the Nova festival during the October 7 attack by Hamas gunmen from Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Reim, southern Israel, February 19, 2024. REUTERS/Susana Vera TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSWedding dresses for sale are displayed on mannequins outside a damaged shop as displaced Palestinians make their way to flee the area following an Israeli evacuation order, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 7, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSPeople mourn Colonel Ehsan Daxa, who was killed amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, during his funeral in the Druze village of Daliyat al-Karmel, Israel, October 21, 2024. REUTERS/Shir Torem TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSMourners carry the coffins of Hezbollah members Fadel Abbas Bazzi and Ahmad Ali Hassan, after hand-held radios and pagers used by armed group Hezbollah detonated across Lebanon, during their funeral in Ghobeiry, Beirut southern suburbs, Lebanon September 19, 2024. REUTERS/Emilie Madi TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSA man walks on a poster of Bashar al-Assad as a sanitation worker removes it from the street downtown, after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria December 10, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSA Palestinian walks among the rubble of damaged buildings, which were destroyed during Israel's military offensive, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, June 12, 2024. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSA person sits as supporters and families of hostages, who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, rally demanding release of hostages as part of a deal being advanced by U.S. President Joe Biden, at Dizengoff square in Tel Aviv, Israel June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Marko Djurica TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSNadine Amine, 50, wipes her face as she cleans her destroyed house, after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect at 0200 GMT on Wednesday after U.S. President Joe Biden said both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France, in Tyre, Lebanon, November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERS SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB People work to recover the dead body of a Palestinian boy from the rubble of a house hit in an Israeli strike, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSThe sun sets over Gaza, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, as seen from Israel, June 27, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSIsraeli soldiers operate in what the military described as a Hamas command tunnel running partly under UNRWA headquarters, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in the Gaza Strip, February 8, 2024. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez EDITOR'S NOTE: REUTERS PHOTOGRAPHS WERE REVIEWED BY THE IDF AS PART OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE EMBED. NO PHOTOS WERE REMOVED TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSDemonstrators protest to condemn the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, in Sidon, Lebanon, July 31, 2024. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSA man puts an Israeli flag on the body, as friends and family mourn Yitzhak Zeiger who was killed yesterday by a Palestinian gunman in the West Bank, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at a cemetery in Jerusalem, March 1, 2024. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSIsraeli soldiers ride in military vehicles as they gather near the ceasefire line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, December 9, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERSUltra Orthodox Jews hang around apparent remains of a ballistic missile before it has been evacuated from the location it was found lying in the desert, following a massive missile and drone attack by Iran on Israel, near the southern city of Arad, Israel April 26, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "REUTERS MIDDLE EAST 2024" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS YEAR-END" FOR ALL 2024 YEAR END GALLERIES.Source: REUTERS
