UAE sponsors mass wedding for 250 Palestinian couples in Gaza

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sponsored a mass wedding for 250 Palestinian couples in Gaza, offering a moment of hope and celebration to young people whose marriages were delayed by war, displacement and economic hardship.

The ceremony, held on Friday at the Gaza City beachfront, was organised by the UAE’s Operation Gallant Knight 3, according to UAE-based newspaper The National, which reported the event on Saturday.

The wedding brought together couples from different parts of the enclave, with brides dressed in wedding gowns and carrying bouquets, while grooms appeared in dark suits, some adorned with traditional keffiyeh scarves.

Many of the couples had postponed their weddings amid the conflict, which has devastated communities, displaced residents and worsened financial difficulties across Gaza.

The UAE’s diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed, Dr Anwar Gargash, said the ceremony reflected his country’s continued humanitarian commitment to Palestinians.

“Gaza and its people remain at the heart of the UAE’s humanitarian efforts despite the world’s many crises,” Gargash was quoted as saying on Saturday.

He added that humanitarian assistance was not only about alleviating suffering but also about helping people “bring back a smile and revive hope for a better tomorrow”.

The mass wedding coincided with the third anniversary of the UAE’s Operation Gallant Knight 3, a humanitarian mission launched on November 5, 2023, to support Palestinians affected by the conflict.

According to figures released by the Emirates News Agency, the operation has delivered more than 136,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid valued at $4.16bn to Gaza.

The UAE said its contribution accounted for approximately 46 per cent of international humanitarian assistance reaching the Palestinian territory.

The humanitarian programme includes the delivery of food, medical supplies, shelter materials and other forms of assistance to residents affected by the war.