Amid the ongoing Israeli bombardment in Rafah, southern Gaza, Muhammad and Yasmine Abdel-Al exchanged vows in a simple wedding ceremony held at a local school where they sought refuge. Originally from Gaza City, the couple fled to Rafah in search of safety like nearly a million other Palestinians.
The wedding ceremony was marked by messages of support for the couple written on a blackboard by relatives.
“We wanted to celebrate our love and commitment to each other despite the difficult situation. It’s a small victory for us and all Palestinians,” said Muhammad Abdel-Al.
The school turned into a shelter for displaced families, and served as the backdrop for the wedding, with the couple opting for simplicity due to the challenging circumstances imposed by the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, a drone strike targeted a roundabout. Claims suggest that civilians were among those targeted, with the government hospital confirming six casualties. The Israeli army entered Jenin City and the surrounding refugee camp in the early hours, encountering fierce resistance from local fighters. An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded, destroying an Israeli army vehicle. Reports indicate at least one soldier was taken away by a military helicopter. The West Bank has witnessed nightly raids, leading to 5,600 arrests, over 3,000 injuries, and 332 Palestinian deaths since 7 October.
The situation in the West Bank continued to intensify as Israeli forces conducted raids in various areas, including Nablus, Hebron, Qalqilya, and Jericho. In Nablus, armed fighting erupted after Israeli forces entered the city at dawn.
At least six people lost their lives in an Israeli drone attack in Jenin in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah confirmed the casualties. Hani al-Masdar, coach of Palestine’s Olympic football team, was killed in an Israeli air raid in Gaza, as reported by the Palestinian Football Association.
The Palestinian death toll in Israeli attacks on Gaza has reached 22,722, with 58,166 reported wounded.
A “Flood the Bronx for Gaza” protest was held in “Little Yemen” in The Bronx, New York, where New Yorkers demanded a free Palestine. Organised by Within Our Lifetime (WOL), a community organisation regularly hosting events in New York City. The protest aimed to raise awareness and show solidarity with the Palestinian people.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU policy chief Josep Borrell are on a Middle East visit to ease the mounting tension. This diplomatic mission follows the recent assassination of a Hamas leader in Beirut. Blinken’s Middle East tour has taken him to Jordan after earlier visits to Turkey and Greece.