The United Arab Emirates has funded a mass wedding ceremony for 250 Palestinian couples in Gaza, providing them with an opportunity to celebrate their marriages despite the devastation, displacement, and financial difficulties caused by the prolonged war.
The ceremony took place on Friday along the Gaza City beachfront under the UAE’s Operation Gallant Knight 3, according to a report published by UAE-based newspaper, The National, on Saturday.
The event attracted couples from different parts of the Palestinian territory, with brides dressed in wedding gowns and holding bouquets, while their grooms appeared in dark suits, some complemented by traditional keffiyeh scarves.
Several of the couples had been unable to hold their wedding ceremonies earlier because of the conflict, which has displaced thousands of families and worsened economic conditions, making marriage increasingly unaffordable for many young Palestinians.
The UAE’s diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed, Dr Anwar Gargash, described the initiative as part of his country’s sustained humanitarian commitment to the Palestinian people.
Speaking on Saturday, Gargash said Gaza remained a major focus of the UAE’s humanitarian interventions despite the numerous crises confronting the international community.
“Gaza and its people remain at the heart of the UAE’s humanitarian efforts despite the world’s many crises,” he was quoted as saying.
He explained that the country’s assistance was not solely focused on addressing the immediate suffering of Palestinians but also on restoring happiness and giving them renewed confidence in the future.
According to him, humanitarian interventions should also help to “bring back a smile and revive hope for a better tomorrow”.