Gazan couples marry amid war and uncertainty
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Across Gaza, young couples are attempting to marry and build lives despite ongoing war, displacement, financial hardship, and loss.
The war has dramatically changed wedding traditions in Gaza, once large and lively celebrations, into uncertain events often overshadowed by violence and economic strain. On July 12, 2026, a woman preparing for her wedding in Gaza City experienced a nearby missile strike, highlighting the constant threat of attack.
Following a forced displacement, she questioned how to plan a future when basic safety is not guaranteed. Many couples face additional challenges. Haneen, a software engineer, is engaged to a man who left Gaza for Egypt, forcing them to rely on unreliable internet for communication. Others, like Ahmed al-Batsh, struggle with rising costs for wedding essentials after losing income or loved ones, his mother was killed during the war.
Hala al-Khatib and her husband married shortly after experiencing multiple deaths in his family, and then lost their home to bombing just weeks later. Despite these difficulties, couples are adapting by holding smaller weddings, seeking help from organisations offering mass wedding events, and finding ways to create a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos. One recent mass wedding in Khan Younis saw 54 couples celebrate together.
A woman who married on September 1, 2026, described her simple wedding and new life in a tent as a testament to the will to live, love, and build a future even in the face of ongoing conflict.
