ON the 8th December 2024, the Assad regime has fallen to the opposition forces during an 11-day long advance. With one dictatorship overtaken, not all hope is lost for the future of Gaza.

In a press conference with social activist Dr. Muhammad Qutub, Syria’s liberation captivated global attention, marking a turning point after decades of oppressive rule. But on the other hand, Gaza endures the horrors of war, genocide, and displacement under an unrelenting regime.

The parallels between these two regions are stark: both have faced systematic oppression, yet Syria’s victory offers hope for Gaza. As winter looms, the Palestinians face further challenges, and the lessons from Syria’s journey to freedom resonate as a call for action.

The situation in Gaza worsens since the attacks on 7th Oct 2023, as Israeli attacks target hospitals, schools, places of worship, and even journalists, leading to the displacement of 1.9 million Palestinians. Many now live in tents, ill-equipped to endure the harsh winter, leading to deaths from cold and starvation

Syria emerged victorious from decades of dictatorship. The fall of the Assad regime marks the end of a 54-year-long reign of terror, culminating in an 11-day advance that shocked the world. Assad’s sudden flight to Russia left his supporters disoriented and his crimes exposed.

With celebrations erupting across Syria, the transitional government, under Ahmed al-Sharaa, has begun rebuilding the nation. International leaders have acknowledged the new government. But the scars of genocide and displacement linger, with millions of refugees seeking safety.

Syria and Gaza share a history of suffering under oppressive regimes, where both regions were once part of a unified land which were now divided and ravaged by war.

While Gaza is suffering from starvation and inadequate healthcare, humanitarian needs have become more essential when the winter season hits in Gaza and imposes a new challenge on the people, with 7 children dying due to hypothermia, the youngest being only 20-days-old.

A total of 100,000 Syrian refugees have returned to Syria after its liberation, with the dream of rebuilding their lives from the massive destruction. Syria's journey to liberation from a tyrannical regime serves as a message of beacon of hope for Gaza to regain their freedom and reconstruction.

* This article is part of “The Collision Room” by Astro AWANI, an initiative within Project Sigma, a global program by the Google News Initiative (GNI).