The dawn of 2024 brought forth intriguing parallels. The apparent resurgence of former President Trump’s political career drew comparisons to President Andrew Jackson’s rise to power around two centuries ago in 1828, following a controversial defeat in the 1824 election. There was an evident similarity in their trajectories, highlighting the contention and controversy synonymous with both their political trajectories.
Andrew Jackson, bitten by a controversial defeat in 1824, triumphed in 1828, securing 55% of the public’s vote. A similar narrative was anticipated for Trump, whose political trajectory appeared to mirror Jackson’s. In a sense, Trump and Jackson’s political narratives were intertwined, leaving the public intrigued about what 2024 held.
As 2024 unfolded, a crucial turning point was marked across the globe in the Middle East. The region, shaken by the brutal incidents that took place on October 7, 2023, was morphing. The longstanding balance was upset, pitching Israel into an unexpected offensive stance, deviating from their three-decade-long diplomacy and peace-oriented approach.
The devastating events of October the previous year instigated drastic changes in the Middle Eastern canvas. On the day of March 12, 2024, sealed another significant event on the global stage, with the Republican Party finally confirming their nomination. Moreover, the regional dynamics took another shift with the disturbing attack of Iran on Israel on April 13th, triggering a ripple of retaliation and conflict.
Iran’s unprecedented aggression toward Israel, in the form of a staggering 300-500 missiles and drones, led to a reciprocal response by Israel on April 19, escalating the tensions further. As the tensions boiled over, Israel marched into Rafah on May 14, a move perceived as necessary to inhibit the disturbing growth of Hamas.
Arguably, this was a year marked by courage under fire. It was a year where daring rescues of hostages represented a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. Concurrently, on U.S soil, an unsettling attempt was made on former President Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, intensifying the uncanny turbulence of 2024.
August shed a grim light on the conditions in the Middle East with repeated instances of hostage situations. Remarkable recoveries were made on the 27th and 31st of the month, including some involving victims who had met tragic ends at the hands of Hamas. The year continued to unfold with targeted attacks on Hamas leaders, reinforcing the realized threat that Hamas posed.
The first day of October ushered in a series of troubling events. Iran once again made the catastrophic decision to attack Israel, wielding ballistic missiles as their weapon of choice. The Israeli retaliation, however, was delayed until the 26th of the month, injecting further uncertainty into the volatile situation.
A significant turn in the tide of warfare came about on October 16th. This day marked the extermination of Yahya Al-Sinwar, widely recognized as the driving force behind the incidents on October 7th, by the hands of the Israeli Forces. This event meant a considerable blow to Hamas, delivering a turning point in the ongoing conflict.
In a surprising turn of American politics, former President Donald Trump managed to rectify his political fortunes. He emerged victorious in the intensely fought elections, cementing his place as the 47th President of the United States on November 5th. This event marked a significant shift on the American political landscape, stirring a mixture of surprise and exclusionary satisfaction.
Adding to the whirlwind of landmark events in 2024, the Mediterranean political climate underwent a significant shakeup as well. After staying in power for over six tumultuous decades, the reign of Assad’s house in Syria finally came to a crashing halt on December 8th.
Despite the hefty toll that the year 2024 had taken, the problems only seemed to compound as the year-end approached. Israel found itself staring at multifaceted issues like constant provocations from Iran, rampant growth of Hamas, the perpetually troubling Ukraine situation, and ongoing hostage crises.
With so many complexities at play, the year 2024 suggested an urgent need for decisive action and effective strategies on part of world leadership – not least from the newly re-elected President Trump.
In retrospect, 2024 was a year of tremendous upheaval, marked by titanic shifts on both the national and global stages. Yet the recurrence of certain political narratives, akin to what Andrew Jackson experienced in the 19th century, provided a fascinating dimension to how public perception and electoral possibilities unfolded.
As the year ended, it was clear that several problems were waiting in the wings, poised to challenge the newly-elected American administration and the global community. The specter of Iran, the rising menace of Hamas, the Ukraine question, and yet unresolved hostage struggles were all issues destined to echo into the coming year.