“We are all experiencing tragedy. Still, we have to live. Because life goes on” (Mohammed Jibril)
On the 12th (local time), a small but meaningful event was held in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Palestine. Mustafa Shamrak (26) and Afnan Jibril (17), refugees who fled the war in the North, tied the knot at an abandoned school. Afnan’s father, Jibril, said, “We are people who love life even when there is death, murder, and destruction.”
According to AFP, Rafah is also extremely dangerous as it is subject to daily Israeli airstrikes. However, the bride Afnan appeared wearing a pure white dress and a flower crown, receiving congratulations from her family and friends. The bride and groom danced and enjoyed the wedding, and the guests congratulated them by spraying white mousse.
The bride and groom’s families are all from northern Gaza and fled here immediately after the war. Originally, the two families planned to return to their hometown after the war ended and have a wedding, but as the war dragged on, they decided that waiting would be useless and prepared a wedding.
It was a happy day with everyone smiling, but it was not without heartache. Jibril, the bride’s father, said, “It was difficult to find the items needed for the wedding,” and “I only managed to get the wedding clothes by paying a high price.” Ayman Shamrak, the groom’s uncle, expressed regret, saying, “The house in the north where the newlyweds were planning to live was destroyed in an airstrike.”
According to the Gaza Strip’s Ministry of Health, the number of Palestinians who have lost their lives in Israeli attacks has so far reached over 23,000. Most of them are said to be women and children. The United Nations estimates that “1.9 million people, or 80% of the population of the Gaza Strip, have become refugees.” Although relief supplies are being brought in, it is not enough to help the people of Gaza, and many people are starving. The medical system is also collapsing, leading to the spread of infectious diseases.
After the wedding, the newlyweds moved to another location to attend another celebration set up in a tent. AFP reported, “The scene of the two people getting into an SUV surrounded by guests was like any other peaceful wedding without war.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.