In a powerful display of resilience, dozens of Palestinian couples have celebrated new beginnings with a mass wedding in war-ravaged Gaza, seizing a rare moment of hope amidst the rubble.
A Ceremony Among the Ruins
On Tuesday, 2 December 2025, 54 couples were married in a collective ceremony in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The event, organised by the UAE-backed humanitarian aid operation Al Fares Al Shahim, provided a stark contrast to the surrounding devastation of collapsed buildings and displacement.
Among the newlyweds were Eman Hassan Lawwa and Hikmat Lawwa, both 27. Dressed in matching traditional Palestinian prints and a suit, they walked hand-in-hand past the crumbled facades that characterise much of southern Gaza. For them, and for many others, the day represented a deliberate step towards a future beyond conflict. "Despite everything that has happened, we will begin a new life," said Lawwa. "God willing, this will be the end of the war."
Joy Tempered by Profound Loss
The celebrations, which saw roaring crowds wave Palestinian flags and dance to music, were profoundly bittersweet. Weddings are a cornerstone of Palestinian culture, typically elaborate, days-long affairs that signify important social and economic bonds. However, they have become exceedingly rare during the recent years of war.
This mass wedding was only possible following a fragile ceasefire. Yet, the ongoing crisis was never far from mind. Most of Gaza's 2 million residents have been displaced, including Eman and Hikmat, who fled to Deir al-Balah. They struggle daily with shortages of food, shelter, and basic necessities.
"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 confessed. "Today, my dream is to find a tent to live in." For Eman, the joy was marred by the memory of her father, mother, and other family members killed during the conflict. "It’s hard to experience joy after such sorrow," she said, tears on her face. "God willing, we will rebuild brick-by-brick."
A Symbol of Defiance and Continuity
Experts note that such events carry deep symbolic weight. Professor Randa Serhan, a sociologist at Barnard College who has studied Palestinian weddings, explained that these unions are an act of defiance and a commitment to the future. "With every new wedding is going to come children and it means that the memories and the lineages are not going to die," Serhan said. "The couples are going to continue life in an impossible situation."
The organising body, Al Fares Al Shahim, not only funded the event but also provided each couple with a small sum of money and essential supplies to help them start their lives together. As a procession of cars carrying the newlyweds drove through streets lined with destruction, the message was clear: even in the face of overwhelming tragedy, the determination to live, love, and build anew persists.
"Life has started to return, but it's not like we hoped it would," Hikmat added, capturing the complex reality of a moment that was both a celebration and a poignant reminder of all that has been lost.
