Gaza Couple's Wedding Day Turns to Tragedy After Israeli Shelling

A white dress, a rented suit, and a tent filled with just 40 guests. For a moment, Mustafa and Nesma al-Borsh managed to steal a moment of happiness in the Gaza Strip. But as their wedding celebration concluded, an Israeli shelling strike next to their tent turned the joyful day into a desperate rescue mission.

The modest ceremony took place last Friday in a tent in eastern Gaza City's Tuffah neighborhood. “I won’t say it was the wedding day I had always dreamed of, but given the harsh conditions we are living under, we tried to steal a few happy moments, and we did,” Nesma, 22, told Al Jazeera. That stolen happiness was short-lived.

From Groom to Rescuer

The shelling directly hit a vocational training facility that was being used as a shelter—the very building where the couple had planned to live. As flames, smoke, and screams filled the air, the groom, Mustafa, 29, sprang into action. “I immediately grabbed my bride’s hand and sent her with my female relatives... Then I took off my wedding suit jacket and rushed with the other men to rescue those inside,” he recounted.

He helped pull wounded people from the debris, including his critically injured nephew. According to Mustafa, it took more than two hours for ambulances to get clearance to enter the area. The attack ultimately killed eight people. His eight-year-old nephew, Mohammad, died from his injuries two days later. “Since that day, I’m still wearing my wedding suit,” Mustafa said. “There is a bloodstain belonging to my nephew.”

A History of Delays and Heartbreak

The couple's wedding was originally scheduled for October 2023, but it was repeatedly delayed due to the war. Their journey has been marked by immense loss. In December 2023, their family home in Jabalia was bombed, killing one of Mustafa's older brothers. He lost another brother in March 2025.

When a second ceasefire came into effect on October 10, 2025, they finally decided to proceed. However, the attack occurred in an area from which Israeli forces had withdrawn under the agreement. According to Al Jazeera, hundreds of Israeli violations have been recorded despite the truce, with more than 400 Palestinians killed in recent months.

Having lost everything again, the newlyweds are now living in separate tents with their respective families. “Every time, I have to start from zero again. Is there suffering greater than this?” Mustafa asked. Nesma added, “My joy is shattered. Everything feels dark here, and there is no space for happiness, not even one step.”