UAE’s Gallant Knight 3 Holds Mass Wedding for 300 Gazan Couples Near Al-Aqsa Hospital

A charity-sponsored mass wedding for 300 brides and grooms was held in central Gaza near Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah, with newlyweds, their families, and the local community in attendance, according to Al Jazeera.

The event was described as a festive moment in central Gaza, with the ceremony taking place on Friday, April 24, 2026.

Al Jazeera

The National reported that the UAE held a mass wedding on Friday for 300 Gazan couples in Gaza “to deliver joy, hope and new beginnings” amid conflict in the enclave.

The weddings, The National said, took place in Deir Al Balah near Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital roundabout and were organised as part of the UAE's Gallant Knight 3 campaign, with support from Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation.

In the Al Jazeera account, the mass wedding was held “near Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza Strip,” while The National placed it “near Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital roundabout.”

A separate report in صوْت الإمارات described the same kind of ceremony as a “mass wedding ceremony” in the Gaza Strip uniting “300 brides and grooms from across the territory.”

The صوْت الإمارات framing tied the event to “Operation Valiant Knight 3,” describing it as part of humanitarian efforts aimed at supporting Palestinian youth and alleviating their financial burdens.

The National said the 300 couples were “selected in a draw out of 1,991 people who applied earlier this month,” and it specified that the ceremonies were open to Palestinians who “reside permanently in the Gaza Strip and were already engaged.”

It also included individual accounts from participants, naming Hamza and Asma, a blind couple, as among those who made their wedding vows after “long dreamed of their wedding day.”

The National

In a post attributed to the UAE Mission to Gaza on social media platform X, Hamza said, “Blessed one are those who bring two hearts together in marriage,” and Asma added, “This joyful day marks the beginning of our life together,” while also saying, “We thank Khalifa Foundation for this wedding. Our hearts are filled with gratitude.”

The National further described Fayez Al Namer, who “lost both his legs during the deadly conflict with Israel,” saying he and his fiancée were “delighted to be part of the special occasion.”

It quoted Al Namer: “I was surprised when they told me that I will be part of the wedding. My fiancee was shocked when I told her the good news,” Mr Al Namer said.

In the Al Jazeera report, the focus remained on the ceremony itself, describing newlyweds, their families, and the local community attending near Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah.

The صوْت الإمارات account added that the initiative “provided essential marriage supplies to participants,” framing the wedding as a way to facilitate “the start of their married lives” under “difficult economic conditions in the Gaza Strip.”

The mass wedding was presented in the broader context of UAE humanitarian operations in Gaza, particularly through the Gallant Knight 3 campaign and its associated relief work.

“The United Arab Emirates, represented by the operation 'The Gallant Knight 3,' continues its intensified humanitarian efforts to support residents of the Gaza Strip through diverse relief initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people after two years of devastating war on the territory”

Al-Khaleej

The الخليج report said the UAE, represented by the operation “The Gallant Knight 3,” continued “its intensified humanitarian efforts” to support residents of the Gaza Strip after “two years of devastating war on the territory.”

It described a 120th week inside the Gaza Strip in which “about 52,000 people benefited daily,” supported by “more than 21,000 meals per day provided by 38 community kitchens,” “10,400 loaves of bread per day produced by 12 bakeries,” and “11 different humanitarian initiatives.”

The same report stated that during the week “24,466 assorted parcels were distributed,” and that “responses to 549 humanitarian appeals included tents, relief bags, food parcels, and clothing of various kinds.”

It also gave figures for field-team distributions, saying “40,691 winter jackets, 5,108 assorted clothing parcels, and 221 tents” were distributed to support affected families and provide “safe shelter.”

For health services, الخليج said the “UAE Medical Center continued its efforts in delivering therapeutic care, treating 1,827 cases during the week.”

The report also tied the humanitarian operation to additional programming, saying the “120th week saw the Gaza Ramadan Championship for veteran football players launched under the patronage of 'The Gallant Knight 3,'” and that the initiative “also hosted four visits by international delegations.”

The صوْت الإمارات report framed the mass wedding as part of “humanitarian efforts” aimed at supporting Palestinian youth and easing financial burdens, while also emphasizing social cohesion.

It said the event was “sponsored by Operation Valiant Knight 3” and described it as “part of humanitarian efforts aimed at supporting Palestinian youth and alleviating their financial burdens.”

صوت الإمارات

It added that the initiative “provided essential marriage supplies to participants,” and that this “facilitating the start of their married lives” was especially important “particularly given the difficult economic conditions in the Gaza Strip.”

The report also described the wedding as promoting “social stability,” stating that “The mass wedding aims to strengthen social cohesion and support stability within Palestinian society by helping young people start families.”

It further claimed that “This also has a positive impact on the social and humanitarian situation in Gaza.”

In addition to the wedding supplies, صوْت الإمارات said the initiative included “Extension of relief aid,” describing “ongoing relief efforts provided by the operation.”

It specifically listed that those relief efforts included “the provision of food, medical, and humanitarian aid.”

The National linked the mass wedding to a wider political and humanitarian timeline, referencing a ceasefire and the scale of displacement and hardship in Gaza.

It said “A US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza came into effect in October,” which it described as raising hopes that “peace and stability can be restored.”

Al Jazeera

The National also stated that “Much of Gaza's population of more than two million has been displaced by the war,” and it connected displacement to “chronic food shortages and limited access to health services and aid” that it said were “leading to a worsening humanitarian crisis.”

The National added that the UAE previously held a mass wedding for “54 couples in Khan Younis in December,” to coincide with its “54th National Day celebrations.”

The الخليج report described the ongoing relief operation as continuing through a “120th week” and said it had “announced the opening of registration for those wishing to participate in the second mass wedding, 'Dress of Joy 2,' until March 2.”

It specified that the second mass wedding would reserve “the weddings of 300 brides and grooms,” and it laid out eligibility conditions including that applicants be “at least 27 years old” with an exception for “the sole survivor in the family.”

The report also said the applicant must “not be an employee of any entity” and must have “full adherence to the rules and instructions of the mass wedding as issued by the project’s committees.”