250 Palestinian Couples Celebrate Mass Wedding in Gaza

Photo: Collected

Amid the ruins of homes destroyed by Israeli attacks and the uncertainty of displacement, 250 Palestinian couples have celebrated their weddings in Gaza in a colourful mass ceremony.

Held with support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the event was named “Dress of Joy 3” and took place on Friday (November 6) at the Sea Club on Gaza City's coast.

The ceremony brought together 250 grooms and 250 brides, offering a moment of joy and emotion for newlyweds and their families amid the devastation caused by the war.

Dozens of cars decorated with Palestinian flags, flowers and red ribbons took part in a wedding procession. The convoy travelled along the coastal road, passing destroyed buildings and tents sheltering displaced people before reaching the venue.

The grooms wore wedding suits, while the brides appeared in white dresses paired with colourful traditional Palestinian designs. They wore golden head ornaments, carried bouquets and dressed in garments featuring traditional embroidery.

The event was organised by the UAE's Al-Faris Al-Shahm 3 Operations Support Committee, in cooperation with the Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation.

The initiative aimed to help young Palestinians who have struggled to afford marriage because of the difficult living conditions in Gaza.

‘This Joy Belongs to All of Gaza’

Saeed al-Najjar, one of the grooms, said his family's home had been destroyed by Israeli bombardment. He and his relatives are now living in a tent near the Yellow Line in the Jabalia refugee camp.

He was selected through a lottery organised by the event's organisers to participate in the mass wedding.

Speaking to a news agency, Saeed said, “This joy does not belong only to one groom or 250 grooms; it is the joy of all the people of Gaza.”

He said many Palestinians had been forced to live in tents after losing their homes to Israeli attacks, adding that he had nowhere else to seek shelter.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza continue to live in tents and temporary shelters after their homes were destroyed or severely damaged. Shortages of food, clean water, healthcare and safe shelter have further worsened their living conditions.

Groom Mourns Mother's Absence on Wedding Day

Another groom, Munir al-Tatari, lost his mother and several other family members during the war. His family home was also destroyed in Israeli attacks.

He had desperately wanted his mother to be beside him on one of the most important days of his life. However, he had to take part in the wedding ceremony without her.

“Even amid the siege and war in Gaza, we will celebrate and bring hope back into our hearts,” Munir said.

He recalled that his family had owned a home before the attacks destroyed it and that he had also lost his mother in the war.

Newlyweds Face Life in a Tent

For another groom, Mohammed Quwaidi, starting married life presents a major challenge. After losing his home in Israeli attacks, he cannot afford to rent or buy another one. As a result, he will have to live in a tent with his wife after the wedding.

Quwaidi said rising prices and the increasing cost of living in Gaza had made marriage even more difficult for young Palestinians.

Asked where he would live with his wife after the ceremony, he said, “We will live in a tent.”

He said the mass wedding had nevertheless given him and the other 249 grooms an opportunity to complete their marriage ceremonies and begin a new chapter of their lives despite the difficult circumstances.

According to the organising committee, 11,622 people applied to participate in the “Dress of Joy 3” mass wedding. Following registration and verification, 1,335 applicants who met the required conditions were selected to take part in the final lottery. The lottery ultimately selected 250 grooms, who married 250 brides.

Mohammed Erbi, head of the UAE's Al-Faris Al-Shahm 3 Operations Support Committee, said the mass wedding, involving 500 people, reflected the determination to keep living despite years of war and hardship.

He said the initiative aimed to inspire hope among young Palestinians and help them establish families. The event, he added, sent a message that life continues even amid Gaza's severe humanitarian crisis.

More than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 175,000 injured in Gaza since Israel launched its military campaign in October 2023, according to the figures cited in the original report. Israeli attacks have extensively damaged residential areas and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, deepening the humanitarian crisis across the territory.