Around 250 Palestinian couples married in a mass wedding ceremony in the Gaza Strip on Friday as part of an initiative organized by the United Arab Emirates’ humanitarian mission, Operation Gallant Knight 3, which has links to Mohammed Dahlan, the exiled former Fatah official and leader of the Democratic Reform Faction, according to official announcements.
Mass wedding ceremonies have provided an opportunity for Palestinian couples to marry despite the financial hardship and displacement caused by the war, which have made it increasingly difficult for many to afford traditional wedding celebrations. The ceremonies have also become a platform for political messaging, with speakers using the events to address the state of the war, Palestinian governance, and the future of the territory.
“One way to honor your sacrifices is to reform the institutions of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, and to restore our people’s right to choose their leadership through the ballot box. Our people deserve leadership that listens to their voices and institutions that safeguard their rights and act as guardians of their future,” Dahlan said in a recorded address broadcast at the event.
“Your joy is the joy of us all. I pray that the days ahead will be kinder and more beautiful for you. We renew our commitment to remain by your side and do everything in our power to heal your wounds and rebuild Gaza, making it as it was, and even more beautiful. We will continue working until our people enjoy freedom and dignity in an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
He added: “To our brothers and sisters getting married tonight, their families, and those who will marry in the future: we promise to stand with you as long as we have breath in our bodies. We will not leave Gaza alone to face Israeli aggression, nor abandon it as some leaders have failed to fulfill their responsibilities toward Gaza and the West Bank.”
Dahlan's political standing in Gaza
Dahlan, who lives in the UAE and serves as a senior security and political adviser to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has sought to build his political standing in the Gaza Strip, where he was born, despite having a more limited political presence in the West Bank.
His name recognition among Palestinians remains significant. Some 55% of Palestinians said they had “heard a lot” about Dahlan, while only 9% said it was their first time hearing of him, according to an October poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR).
In an August poll by the same organization, Dahlan was identified as the preferred successor to PA President Mahmoud Abbas by 15% of respondents, behind Fatah figure Marwan Barghouti (39%) and only slightly behind Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya (16%).
The October poll also highlighted regional differences in support for Dahlan’s political camp. A joint Hamas-Dahlan electoral list received 30% support in Gaza, compared with just 7% in the West Bank.
UAE humanitarian aid and Gaza's future
Dimitri Diliani, spokesperson for Fatah’s Democratic Reform Faction, told The Jerusalem Post that Emirati humanitarian aid helps families remain in Gaza by sustaining access to food, water, medical care, shelter, and education, despite what he described as “the obstructionist policies of the State of Israel.”
In a statement marking the third anniversary of Operation Gallant Knight 3, which coincided with Friday’s wedding, Diliani said the organization had delivered more than 136,000 metric tons of assistance over the past three years.
“Our national priority is to ensure our people can remain in their homeland. Assistance that keeps families fed, children learning, and patients receiving treatment serves that priority,” Diliani said. “These young couples deserve to establish homes and raise their children in safety in Gaza.”