Mass Wedding of Displaced Palestinians in Khan Younes Brings Joy Amid Woes of War
(Arab World Press) - Amidst the camps for displaced people in Khan Younes, in the southern Gaza Strip, a mass wedding party of five young couples took place, under the motto, ‘Joy Despite the Wounds.’
To the beat of Palestinian drums and popular wedding songs, the grooms were carried by young people into the dedicated space amid clapping and shrills of joy.
The party, held under the auspices of the social development ministry in the Gaza Strip and the Khan Younes Relief Commission, brought some happiness to ease the displaced people’s suffering, which has been ongoing for more than seven months, since the Israeli war on the enclave began.
“From a field tour, we found out that there were some couples who had had their marriage officially documented, but had failed to make a household together,” said Jihad Abul-Rish, the representative of the Ministry of Social Development.
“We made an initiative to give a hand by offering tents, beds, bathroom, health and food parcels, and culinary utensils to encourage them to go on with their marriage,” he added.
Abu-Rish noted that other mass wedding parties would follow, in an attempt to help displaced young people.
Ahmed Amer, one of the five grooms, said, “I got engaged on June 4, 2023, nearly one year ago. Despite the agony and pain, we will bring joy to our families and neighbors.”
“I was displaced from Khan Younes to al-Mawasi. Our marriage house is going to be a tent, like the rest of the young people here,” he noted.
Organizers of the mass wedding said that it was only a message denoting the Palestinians’ ability to go on with their lives no matter how miserable their conditions, and to show their love of life in all its details.
Jazya Moussa, a displaced Palestinian woman, said, “we came here after we learned about a mass wedding party. We have been craving such a party. Although this place is ill-fated, joy overwhelmed us,” she added.