08.11.2026 10:10
In the Gaza Strip, where Israeli attacks have caused massive destruction, a mass wedding was held for 250 Palestinian couples as part of the UAE-supported "Brave Knight 3" initiative. At the ceremony held among rubble and tents, 500 brides and grooms tied the knot, and couples who lost their homes due to the war also experienced happiness. One of the grooms saying that after marrying he would live with his wife in a tent highlighted the difficult living conditions in Gaza.
Amid the years-long war and destruction in the Gaza Strip, this time there was wedding joy. Under the UAE-supported "Operation Chivalrous Knight 3" humanitarian aid initiative, a mass wedding ceremony was held for 250 couples on Friday, November 6. The organization called "Dress of Joy 3" was held at the Maritime Club in the coastal area of Gaza City. The ceremony, attended by a total of 500 brides and grooms, gave an unforgettable day to young people who had been forced to postpone their marriages because of the war.
WEDDING CONVOY PASSED THROUGH THE RUINS
Vehicles decorated with Palestinian flags, flowers, and red ribbons formed a convoy on Gaza's coastal road. The wedding convoy, passing among destroyed buildings and tents where displaced families live, reached the ceremony area. Brides wearing white clothes adorned with traditional Palestinian embroidery and grooms in suits celebrated their marriages with their families. The organization, held with music and celebrations, brought joy, even if briefly, to Palestinians who have long lived under difficult conditions.
THEY GOT MARRIED BUT HAVE NO HOME TO LIVE IN
The account of Muhammad Kuwaydir, one of the grooms attending the ceremony, revealed the humanitarian drama in Gaza. Stating that he lost his home during the war, Kuwaydir said he could not rent or buy a new house because of economic conditions. When asked where he and his wife would live after getting married, he replied, "We will live in a tent." Another groom, Saed el-Najjar, said his family's house was destroyed and that he lives in a tent near Jabalia refugee camp.
MORE THAN 11 THOUSAND APPLIED
11,622 people applied to participate in the mass wedding organization. After the applications were evaluated, 1,335 people remained for the final lottery stage. As a result of the draw, 250 grooms were selected, and the couples attended the mass wedding ceremony with their families. The organization was held with the support of the Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Work.
HELD FOR THE THIRD TIME IN GAZA
The mass wedding held under the "Dress of Joy" initiative was the third organization in Gaza. Previously, similar ceremonies were held for 54 couples in Khan Younis in December 2025 and for 300 couples in Deir al-Balah in April 2026. With the latest organization, hundreds of young Palestinians found the opportunity to celebrate their marriages despite the economic hardships caused by the war.