Palestinian couple tie knot hours before ceasefire

A young Palestinian couple tied the knot on Thursday at a U.N. school west of Gaza City only hours before a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas had been extended.

According to the UK-based Daily Mail, Palestinian couple Heba Fayad and Omar Abu Namar tied the knot at a U.N. school in al-Shatea refugee camp alongside 4,000 refugees.

“If somebody told me that I would be getting married in these conditions, I would not have believed them for a second!” said Fayad, who was quoted by the British daily while she was at a beauty salon in Gaza.

“I had planned everything: the music, the guest list, my dress and my bouquet. And here I am today, I'm getting married in a school with thousands of refugees.”

Although the couple was due to wed next month, the latest Israeli aggression against Gaza impacted their plans.

The 23-year-old bride has lost her big white dress and many of the items she bought for marriage when her house was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

But despite her losses, Fayad decided to proceed with the marriage, saying it is now or never.

“If I don't get married today, and in these conditions, then I won't be able to get married for at least three years,” she said.
“My house was destroyed, I lost everything.”

UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees and other aid agencies, has reportedly contributed to the wedding, according to the Daily Mail. It also granted the couple two nights in a hotel in Gaza.

“Over there, I will take a shower every hour, it will be a change from all these days without seeing a drop of water to wash in,” the bride said.

Yahiya Zaqqut, the manager of the U.N. shelter said UNRWA was keen to provide the couple with “all their logistical needs.”

“This event assures that despite the pain, attacks, and suffering, Palestinians always insist on resisting,” Zaqqut said.