54 couples marry in War torn Gaza during ceasefire

The twenty seven year old Palestinians were among fifty four couples who married Tuesday in a mass wedding in war battered Gaza, offering a rare moment of optimism after two years marked by destruction and conflict.

“Despite everything that has happened, we will begin a new life,” Hikmat Lawwa said. “God willing, this will be the end of the war,” he added.

Weddings hold deep cultural importance for Palestinians, yet they have become uncommon in Gaza during the war. The fragile ceasefire has allowed some traditions to resume, even though the celebrations are far from the elaborate events once common in the territory.

Crowds waving Palestinian flags gathered in Khan Younis to mark the occasion, but the mood was shaped by the continuing crisis across Gaza. Most of the two million residents, including Eman and Hikmat Lawwa, have been displaced, vast city blocks lie in ruins, and daily life remains affected by aid shortages and recurring conflict.

The couple, who are distant relatives, fled to Deir al Balah during the war and have struggled to secure essentials such as food and shelter. They said it is difficult to imagine how they will build a stable future in the current circumstances.

“We want to be happy like the rest of the world. I used to dream of having a home, a job, and being like everyone else,” Hikmat said. “Today, my dream is to find a tent to live in.”

“Life has started to return, but it is not like we hoped it would,” he added.

The ceremony was organized with funding from Al Fares Al Shahim, a humanitarian relief initiative supported by the United Arab Emirates. The organization not only hosted the event but also provided couples with a small financial grant and basic supplies to help them begin their lives together.

In Palestinian culture, weddings are often multi day celebrations that carry social and economic significance, featuring joyful dances, family processions through the streets and distinctive fabric patterns worn by the couple and their relatives, accompanied by generous meals shared among extended families.