• Palestinian groom Saed Abu Aser, and his bride, Falasteen, take the stairs down to the wedding hall.
    Palestinian groom Saed Abu Aser, and his bride, Falasteen, take the stairs down to the wedding hall.
  • A woman throws candy at friends of Saed Abu Aser, as they pass through the neighborhood dancing, before his wedding party.
    A woman throws candy at friends of Saed Abu Aser, as they pass through the neighborhood dancing, before his wedding party.
  • Saed Abu Aser walks with his bride, Falasteen, leaving her family house to go to the wedding hall to celebrate their marriage.
    Saed Abu Aser walks with his bride, Falasteen, leaving her family house to go to the wedding hall to celebrate their marriage.
  • Band members play celebratory music in the family house of Palestinian groom Saed Abu Aser, as part of the celebrations for his wedding.
    Band members play celebratory music in the family house of Palestinian groom Saed Abu Aser, as part of the celebrations for his wedding.
  • Friends and relatives of Palestinian groom Saed Abu Aser, dance in the streets around the neighborhood, while being carried on a friend's shoulders, before his wedding party, in Gaza City.
    Friends and relatives of Palestinian groom Saed Abu Aser, dance in the streets around the neighborhood, while being carried on a friend's shoulders, before his wedding party, in Gaza City.
  • Two girls pose for a picture as they sit in front of the family house during the wedding party of Palestinian groom Saed Abu Aser.
    Two girls pose for a picture as they sit in front of the family house during the wedding party of Palestinian groom Saed Abu Aser.
  • Groom Saed Abu Aser, center left, and relatives dance in front of his bride, Falasteen, in her family house during their wedding party.
    Groom Saed Abu Aser, center left, and relatives dance in front of his bride, Falasteen, in her family house during their wedding party.
  • Saed Abu Aser, center right, dances with relatives while holding guns in the family house during his wedding party, in Gaza City.
    Saed Abu Aser, center right, dances with relatives while holding guns in the family house during his wedding party, in Gaza City.
  • The bride and groom walk into the wedding hall.
    The bride and groom walk into the wedding hall.
  • Relatives of the groom, dance in a party celebrating his wedding.
    Relatives of the groom, dance in a party celebrating his wedding.
  • The groom, Saed Abu Aser, dances in the street on his way to the wedding hall.
    The groom, Saed Abu Aser, dances in the street on his way to the wedding hall.

Region in focus: Wedding cuts through gloomy mood on Gaza Strip

James O’Hara

August 04, 2016

  • English
  • Arabic

In Gaza City weddings have emerged as a welcome celebration that slices through the often morose mood in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian coastal territory run by the militant group Hamas. For both rich and poor, weddings are a days-long, lavish affair of celebration with family and friends that include music, food, parties and dancing.

Photography by Khalil Hamra for the Associated Press

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