2,000 couples marry in Gaza wedding
Turkish-sponsored ceremony takes place on fifth anniversary of Mavi Marmara affair; onlookers wave pictures of Erdogan
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Two thousand Palestinian couples were married in a mass ceremony in Gaza’s Yarmouk sports stadium on Sunday, in the largest-ever such event in the Palestinian enclave.
The ceremony, which took place in the presence of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, was funded by Turkey’s Religious Affairs Presidency and the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency, also known as TIKA.
“Turkey is very pleased to stand by you on this day with its government and its public,” TIKA program coordinator for Palestine Bulent Korkmaz said in a speech at the ceremony, adding that the date on which it took place — the fifth anniversary of the Mavi Marmara flotilla affair — was evidence of Turkey’s support for the Palestinians, according to Turkish state-run radio.
Video from the event showed thousands of men wearing scarves with the word Palestine written in English dancing while thousands sat in a separate area of the stadium.
Onlookers waved Turkish flags and posters with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Erdogan’s face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRwQ9UVNJ-0
Haniyeh thanked Erdogan and the Turkish government and people for their support.
He also said that Turkey had promised $4 million in assistance to the newlywed couples, together with 20 buildings that would contain 340 housing units for Gazans made homeless during Operation Protective Edge.
On May 31, 2010, Israeli commandos attempted to board a blockade-busting Turkish ship sailing for Gaza. Ten Turks were killed and several Israeli solders injured in the ensuing melee, which contributed to a significant deterioration in Israeli-Turkish ties.
The Times of Israel Community.