Daijiworld Media Network – Gaza City
Gaza City, Dec 24: Mustafa and Nesma al-Borsh had hoped for a modest celebration to mark their union amid the hardships of life in the Gaza Strip. The couple, dressed in rented attire, held a small wedding ceremony in a tent in eastern Gaza City’s Tuffah neighbourhood, attended by just 40 guests. “It wasn’t the wedding I had dreamed of, but we tried to steal a few happy moments despite the harsh conditions,” said Nesma.
However, the celebrations were abruptly overshadowed by tragedy. As the wedding concluded, Israeli shelling struck a nearby building, a vocational training facility run by Gaza’s Ministry of Education that had been converted into a shelter for displaced families. The couple had planned to move into one of the classrooms after the wedding.
Mustafa recounted the harrowing moments: “I grabbed my bride’s hand and sent her with female relatives to safety, then rushed with other men to rescue those trapped inside.” The strike directly hit the second floor where Mustafa’s family and others were sheltering, destroying the space prepared for the couple. Amid flames, dust, and chaos, Mustafa and his family retrieved the wounded, including his critically injured nephew, Mohammad, who succumbed to his injuries two days later.
Emergency response was delayed as ambulances required Israeli coordination to enter the area. Mustafa described the two-hour wait as “indescribably terrifying” with shelling continuing around them. Families were displaced once again, leaving behind all their belongings.
The couple’s struggle to wed amidst conflict has been long and painful. Mustafa had lost two older brothers to the ongoing war, and the family endured repeated displacement, bombardments, and hunger. After a brief ceasefire in January 2025, the couple had hoped to celebrate, only to face renewed fighting in March and October.
Despite planning a simple wedding in December 2025, the couple’s joy was stolen. Eight people, including Mustafa’s young nephew, were killed in the shelling of the nearby building. The al-Borsh family, like many others, continues to live in temporary shelters, struggling to rebuild amid uncertainty.
Reflecting on the day, Mustafa said, “Every time, I have to start from zero again. Is there suffering greater than this?” Nesma added, “My joy is shattered. There is no space for happiness, not even one step.”
The al-Borsh couple’s story highlights the enduring human cost of conflict in Gaza, where even moments of personal joy are overshadowed by war and displacement.