Joy
After Sorrow: 406 Couples Celebrate Life Anew in Gaza
In a rare and
heartwarming scene not seen in over two years, 406 brides and grooms gathered
on Thursday in the Gaza Strip to participate in a mass wedding organized by the
Turkish “Ribat” Association, bringing smiles back to the faces of Palestinians
amid the destruction and rubble left by the Israeli genocide war that erupted
in October 2023.
The large-scale
ceremony was hosted in the town of Al-Zawayda, bringing together 203 grooms and
203 brides in cold winter conditions, symbolizing hope and life amid the harsh
reality imposed by the war, which claimed more than 70,000 martyrs and left over
171,000 injured, alongside widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure.
Abdel Fattah
Al-Namla, the media coordinator of the “Ribat” Association in Gaza, said the
event aimed “to paint smiles and bring happiness to the youth striving to
revive life in Gaza, despite the occupation’s attempts to spread messages of
despair and pain.” He added that the wedding represents “the first of new joys
and a beginning of restoring hope from beneath the rubble.”
Al-Namla emphasized
that the message of the ceremony is clear: Gaza is still livable and
sustainable, and Palestinians, despite losing their homes and loved ones,
remain committed to their right to joy and stability.
He confirmed that
Turkey, through the “Ribat” Association, has continued to provide humanitarian
support to the Strip over the past two years, ranging from food and water to
programs covering children, youth, displacement camps, and shelter.
Among the grooms,
Mohammad Shalabi expressed a mix of joy and sorrow, saying, “The pain is
immense and the loss is heartbreaking, but today’s happiness shows that we love
life, and our will cannot be broken.” He stressed that the message to the world
is that the people of Gaza are resilient and strong, and that smiles still
grace people’s faces despite all the bombing and destruction they have endured.
For her part, bride
Waad Al-Shafie described her participation in the wedding as “a new beginning
of hope after two years of harsh living,” emphasizing that the joy gave them
strength and determination to continue and rebuild Gaza. She expressed deep gratitude
to Turkey for supporting Palestinians and bringing happiness back into their
lives.
This mass wedding
comes at a time when the Gaza Strip continues to face severe humanitarian
challenges, including an ongoing blockade and shortages of basic necessities.
Yet, Palestinians insist on creating moments of joy whenever possible,
affirming that hope and life can emerge even from beneath the rubble.
(Source: Anadolu Agency)
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* للاطلاع على الترجمة الكاملة للخبر باللغة العربية،
اضغط (هنا).
