Wedding extravaganza for Gaza’s war wounded

EXCLUSIVE PICTURES

Families in Gaza had something to celebrate over the weekend – a wedding extravaganza for the young men left wounded after the Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip in 2008/2009. The large scale wedding ceremony was held in Gaza City and was organised by the Marriage Facilitation and Development Bureau.

Seventy war-wounded grooms were to take part in the ceremony under the auspices of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. During a speech, the Prime Minster thanked his staff for the work they continued to do for the social welfare of Palestinian people including the war wounded, orphans and the bereaved.

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The First Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, Ahmad Bahr, stated that this ceremony was in honour of those who had sacrificed themselves in order to protect their families, their land and their nation. He went on to send a message to the Israeli Occupation, which continues to threaten the Gaza Strip with invasion, stating “they [Israel] will not be able to enter Gaza as long as these Mujahideen are present.”

In his opening speech, the President of the Board of Directors of the Marriage Facilitation and Development Bureau, Adham Balogi, called on donors to continue to contribute to the maintenance of this project which seeks to improve the quality of life of the wounded men and women of the Strip.

Balogi pointed out that seventy men were scheduled to take part in the wedding ceremony, however only 67 were present as the other three had to leave the Strip to seek medical treatment outside.

The event was full of fun and laughter and included theatrical plays, dabka music and a number of Palestinian artists putting on a show for the enjoyment of the gathered families and friends.

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MEMO Photographer: Mohammed Asad