Israel marks muted New Year celebrations against backdrop of Gaza war
In Israel as elsewhere, people rang in the new year on Sunday night, but the proceedings were markedly more muted than in previous years, given the backdrop of the war in Gaza. Even so, some Israelis hit the streets in an effort to find a moment of badly needed levity following nearly 3 months of war – and while over a hundred hostages are still being held by Hamas and its allies in the Gaza Strip.