Gaza (QNN)- Joy rose from the ruins in Gaza this week. More than 200 couples took part in a mass wedding despite the devastation of Israel’s genocide in the enclave.
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The event carried the title “We Love Life Despite Genocide.” The Turkish-funded Al-Ribat Foundation supported the celebration.
The mass wedding took place on Thursday in Al-Zawaida town in central Gaza. It marked the largest such event since the assault stopped in October.
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Ululations and Palestinian folk songs filled the square. Brides and grooms set aside their grief. For three hours, they reclaimed a piece of stolen life.
The participants survived a genocide that killed more than 70,000 Palestinians. Nearly 170,000 others suffered injuries. Homes, facilities, and infrastructure lie in ruins.
Grooms walked along a path toward a large stage. Palestinian and Turkish flags flew above. Children lined the sides, clapping and throwing flowers. The grooms wore black suits. The brides wore white dresses with traditional Palestinian embroidery.
Thousands of family members and loved ones attended. Smiles spread across the crowd. The wedding opened a window of hope after two years of bloodshed.
Emotions mixed joy with pain. Many couples lost entire families in Israeli massacres. Grief followed them into the celebration.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, groom Mohammed Al-Shaffa’i, who lost his family during the genocide, said his participation sends a message of life and resilience.
Mohammed Abu Taita also joined the wedding. He described the event as a “special joy.” He said such charitable initiatives help young people marry during severe economic hardship caused by the genocide.
Gazans have tried to restore life during the relative calm after a ceasefire agreement on October 10. Demand for marriage has increased. Two weeks ago, 54 grooms joined a similar mass wedding in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, supported by the relief group “Al-Faris Al-Shahem 3.”
