Mass Wedding Brings Rare Celebration to Gaza

Hundreds of people gathered in Deir al-Balah as 300 couples were married in the largest mass wedding ever held in Gaza. The couples were chosen through a draw of nearly 2,000 applicants, turning the event into a rare moment of joy for families affected by months of conflict and displacement.

The celebration was funded by the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation as part of Operation Gallant Knight 3, a humanitarian effort by the United Arab Emirates to support Palestinians in Gaza. One bride, Thekra al-Masri, said the ceremony offered 'hope for change' for people trying to rebuild their lives.

The event took place during a fragile ceasefire that has held since October. The war began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken. Israel's military response has since killed more than 72,560 people in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry, with recent strikes continuing to claim civilian lives amid ongoing tensions.