Fortunes Have Returned to Gaza

According to KOKCHANEWS on Monday, in the neighborhood of each of the people of Gaza, a family has been completely destroyed or lost most of its members, students are not behind classroom desks, and if the school opens, many classes will be empty, just as the place of fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers are empty in many homes, and young people go to their marital homes in bitter silence.

The devastation caused by the war, homelessness, the shrinking of families, and the absence of old friends and elementary school companions have caused so much pain to the hearts of the people of Gaza who survived the war that their mouths are still bitter despite the end of the war.

And even joyous ceremonies like weddings, which were once a space full of enthusiasm and joy, are now limited to small and simple family gatherings. People see every smile and every small joy as a symbol of their resistance.

Although the sound of cannons and mortars has subsided and airplanes no longer tear through the sky of Gaza, the effects of the war are still evident in people’s hearts and minds. The devastation caused by the war is not only limited to houses and buildings; it has also affected the social life and even the moments of joy and celebration of the people.

On the streets of Gaza, you can see brides cautiously moving towards small halls or simple houses. There is no longer news of car caravans, enthusiastic celebrations, or fireworks. Every smile and every moment of joy, in such circumstances, has become a symbol of resistance and perseverance.

“Yousef Sharaf” told the reporter of the Palestine Information Center in a tone full of pain and hope: “Today, we are sending my brother Amer to his marital home. A year and a half has passed since that disaster; the night we lost everything. On that night, our parents and all our sisters and brothers were martyred. Amer came out alive from under the rubble, wounded and shocked, but he survived.”

Today, Yousef and his other brother, Amr, while feeling the nostalgia for the presence of their parents and complete family, are preparing Amer for the wedding ceremony. They dress him in his groom’s clothes, swallow their tears, and see his smile; a smile that reminds them of perseverance and hope every moment.

Yousef continues: Today, we are fulfilling the trust of life instead of our parents. We will not forget, we will not be cleansed from what has happened to us, and we will never return to the past life. But despite the loss, devastation, and grief that does not subside, we continue on the path of life.

Amer is not just a groom today; he is a living symbol of being alive and the ability to continue life after the disaster. Yousef says: Amer is a living witness that shows that life can emerge from the heart of the ruins and that those we have lost are present in every moment of joy, even if their bodies are not with us.

He asks people to pray for Amer to have a happy and joyful life and to pray for their family to have strength and perseverance. This ceremony, beyond a wedding celebration, is a reminder of human resilience and the continuation of the path of life in the midst of ruins; a message of hope and resistance for all those whose lives have been affected by war and disaster.

This story of the life of Amer and his brothers is a clear example of the resilience of the people of Gaza; people who, despite losing their family, home, and security, are still trying to live and keep joy alive, even if simple and quiet, in the heart of the ruins.

“Mohammad Awad,” a young man who married a few days after the end of the war, says: “I couldn’t be as happy as other people. My neighbors have lost their children, and the area is full of pain and suffering. We only held a small ceremony for the family, without music and noise. The important thing is to start a new life and not forget those who have been lost.”

These statements reflect the general situation of many people in Gaza; happiness still exists, but its form and meaning have changed.

Wedding ceremonies, which were previously held with the presence of hundreds of people and nights full of singing and dancing, are now limited to simple family gatherings in which coffee and sweets are served cautiously, and enthusiastic music has given way to hymns and quiet melodies.

“Um Yazan,” the mother of one of the brides, explains: “We said that it is not necessary to rent a hall, no one is in the mood for celebration, everyone is heartbroken. We held the ceremony at home and among the family, the wedding dress was the same as before, but the spirit and atmosphere are different.”

In this regard, “Abdullah Mahmoud,” an expert on social issues, explains about these changes: The Gazan society is in a state of collective mourning. The traditions of happiness have changed because they are no longer in harmony with the general mood and mental state of the people. Even the concept of happiness has now become simpler and more humble. Wedding ceremonies are held more as a social duty and not just as a celebration ritual.

Despite all this grief and pain, a ray of hope is seen in the hearts of the people of the Gaza Strip. Many young people insist on continuing life and consider the continuation of life as a kind of resistance against the conditions.

“Israa Abu Dieh,” who recently wore her wedding dress, says: “We don’t want to live on the ruins, we have to continue. Happiness is now a national position and not just a personal occasion.”

This spirit, a combination of grief and hope, has always been a characteristic of the people of Gaza. A city that always rises after the ruins and continues life and celebrates with minimal facilities. Although the manifestations of joy have changed, its main essence, which is the insistence on life and the continuation of the path, still remains.

In the hours of the night, while wandering through the old neighborhoods of Gaza, the faint sound of women’s ululation is heard from one of the houses. This sound, not so loud, but full of sincerity and human warmth, shows that the people of Gaza, no matter how damaged, still have the ability to love, smile, and hope.

In the middle of the tents of the displaced and the ruins caused by the airstrikes, Muhammad and Yasmin started their life together. No flowers, no magnificent hall, and no smiling crowd, but in silence and with moments full of regret, their love was celebrated. This wedding was not only a personal ceremony but also a message to the enemy; a message that showed that the people of Gaza are still alive and continue to hope and live.

The author of this story writes: “While the enemy wanted the people to be left out of life and lose their hope, Muhammad and Yasmin, by starting their life together, not only overcame their enemy but also returned joy to the heart of Gaza. This wedding was the most beautiful wedding in the world.”

The marriage of this couple is a symbol of resilience and resistance. People usually get married in gorgeous clothes and in a ceremony full of joy and happiness, but Muhammad and Yasmin started their life in the middle of the ruins and with a firm will. They live in a way that this marriage is not for the life of the world but for life and survival in the midst of hardships and ruins.

This wedding, both for themselves and for Gaza, was an opportunity to show that even in the worst conditions, life goes on. The author continues: “Muhammad and Yasmin will live tomorrow in a new and better house than the refugee tents; a house full of love and warmth, a place where life and hope are passed on to the next generation and the memory of the hard days of the past fades.”

This celebration of love, in addition to its personal importance, is inspiring for all the people of Gaza; a sign that even after eight decades of deprivation and hardship, love, life, and happiness still stand. Muhammad and Yasmin’s ceremony proves that the people of this land are able to build a life and raise their heads from under the ruins, even on top of the ruins.

The people of Gaza, despite all the pain and suffering, are still trying to continue life and celebrate happiness with minimal facilities. Every small ceremony, every smile, and every happy moment is not only a sign of continuing life but also a kind of resistance against violence and destruction.

The Gazan community is now pursuing its path for spiritual and social reconstruction by preserving the memory of those who have been lost and creating a balance between sorrow and hope.

This report shows that life in Gaza has changed after the war, but the people’s will to live and strive for happiness, however simple and quiet, still remains and preserves their human and social identity.