The year 2024 was marked by conflicts, wars, and humanitarian crises across much of the world. While in Gaza and Lebanon, people suffer daily, including a significant number of children, in another part of the world life goes on as usual – with celebrations of various holidays, film festivals, and election victories.
A gallery of photographs was created where one part shows events from the Western world this year, featuring numerous entertainment activities, and the other depicts destruction, death, and humanitarian crises elsewhere.
One side presents events from Western countries, while the other portrays the harsh reality of wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
In one photo, taken on January 1st, 2024, a fireworks display illuminates the London Eye above the River Thames, celebrating the New Year in the United Kingdom (UK). In stark contrast, another photo from January 20th, 2024, shows rockets launched by Israeli forces lighting up the night sky over Deir al-Balah in Gaza.
A photo from February 14th 2024 shows over 55.000 balloons released into the air in Moscow for Valentine’s Day.
In a February 29th photo, Palestinian children seeking shelter in the Tel al-Sultan region due to Israeli attacks are seen decorating their tents with Ramadan lanterns and lights in preparation for Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims.
A March 26th photo captures a smiling United States (U.S.)President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Opposite this is a March 21st photo of Palestinian woman Nuzha Avda holding her three children in her arms. Her face reflects the pain of her situation after her home was destroyed in an Israeli attack. Nuzha temporarily stayed at Al-Shifa Hospital, which was repeatedly targeted by Israeli airstrikes. She is currently seeking refuge in southern Gaza.
Another photo from April 14th, 2024, shows Bayer 04 Leverkusen fans celebrating their first Bundesliga title. In stark contrast, a photo from April 1st, 2024, depicts a woman mourning as Palestinians gather around the burned and destroyed Al-Shifa Hospital, which was destroyed in Israeli attacks.
A May 25th photo shows Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia posing with an award for her film “All That We Imagine as Light“ during the Golden Palm Award ceremony at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.
In contrast, a May 21st photo shows a child with a broken arm in a cast lying on the floor of Al-Aqsa Hospital as wounded Palestinians are brought in after Israeli attacks on the Bureij refugee camp in Deir al-Balah.
A June 13th photo features Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President Joe Biden at the 50th G7 summit in Brindisi, Italy, which brings together the world’s seven largest economies.
On June 14th, Palestinians are seen emerging from rubble, covered in dust, after an Israeli strike on the Abu Aisha family home in Deir al-Balah, Gaza.
The contrast between two parts of the world is also evident in a July 14th photo, where Spanish footballers celebrate their victory over England in the UEFA EURO 2024 final at Olympiastadion in Berlin. On the other hand, a July 16th photo shows a grieving Palestinian woman with an injured child following an Israeli attack on a United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in Deir al-Balah.
Celebrations worldwide and sorrow in Gaza continued in August this year. On August 11th, a photo shows Stephen Curry and LeBron James celebrating after defeating France in a basketball match on the fifteenth day of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
A photo from just a day earlier captures a grieving Palestinian woman at Al-Aqsa Hospital after an Israeli attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp in Deir al-Balah, Gaza.
Proof that the world does not stop for the suffering of Palestinians is a September 12th photo showing a model presenting a creation by Agatha Ruiz de la Prada for the spring/summer 2025 season during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Madrid. In stark contrast, a September 28th, 2024, photo shows a Palestinian woman and child mourning a husband killed in an Israeli attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp.
One photo depicts Halloween preparations on October 19th, showing the “Whitestone” house in New York decorated with skeletons, ghosts, monsters, and other Halloween-themed ornaments. In contrast, an October 30th photo shows a young Lebanese woman in a house heavily damaged by an Israeli attack in Sidon, Lebanon.
A November 15th photo captures a boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. At AT&T Stadium in Arlington, a crowd of 80.000 people gathered.
In another photo from November 27th, hundreds of Palestinians are seen waiting in line outside a bakery. Due to the Israeli blockade in Gaza, Palestinians face hunger amidst Israeli attacks, the closure of border crossings, and limited access to aid in Deir al-Balah.
In December, as the world prepares for New Year celebrations, a December 15th photo shows actor B.J. Averell dressed as Santa Claus holding his daughter Sloane in Burlingame, California, where volunteers prepare Christmas gifts and toys.
Meanwhile, in another part of the world, a photo from the Bureij refugee camp in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, shows two Palestinian children standing in front of a destroyed building following an Israeli attack on the Al-Qarinawi family home, AA writes.
