The United Arab Emirates has sponsored a mass wedding ceremony for 250 Palestinian couples in Gaza, providing a rare moment of joy for residents grappling with the devastating effects of war, displacement and financial hardship.
The ceremony, which took place on Friday along the Gaza City beachfront, was organised by the UAE’s Operation Gallant Knight 3, according to a report published on Saturday by UAE-based newspaper, The National.
The event featured couples from different parts of the Palestinian enclave.
The brides appeared in wedding gowns with bouquets, while the grooms wore dark suits, with some adorning traditional keffiyeh scarves.
Several of the couples had been unable to hold their weddings due to the ongoing conflict, forced displacement and economic difficulties, which have made marriage ceremonies increasingly unaffordable for many young Palestinians.
The UAE’s diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed, Dr Anwar Gargash, said the initiative underscored his country’s sustained humanitarian support for the people of Gaza.
“Gaza and its people remain at the heart of the UAE’s humanitarian efforts despite the world’s many crises,” Gargash was quoted as saying on Saturday.
He further noted that the UAE’s humanitarian interventions went beyond providing relief to victims of the conflict, stressing the importance of restoring hope among affected communities.
He added that humanitarian assistance was not limited to easing suffering but also included efforts to “bring back a smile and revive hope for a better tomorrow”.
The mass wedding coincided with the third anniversary of Operation Gallant Knight 3, the UAE’s humanitarian mission to Gaza, which commenced on November 5, 2023.
According to the report, the operation has supplied more than 136,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid worth $4.16bn, based on figures published by the Emirates News Agency.
The UAE said its assistance represented approximately 46 per cent of the international humanitarian aid delivered to the Palestinian territory.
The intervention has provided essential supplies, including food, medical materials, shelter and other relief items to Palestinians affected by the conflict.
