UAE Mission Marries 250 Gaza Couples While Dahlan Calls for Palestinian Elections

Approximately 250 Palestinian couples exchanged vows in the Gaza Strip on Friday during a mass wedding ceremony. The event was coordinated by Operation Gallant Knight 3, a United Arab Emirates humanitarian initiative with close ties to Mohammed Dahlan, the exiled former Fatah official who currently leads the Democratic Reform Faction.

The ceremony provided a platform for political messaging alongside the celebration. In a recorded address played at the venue, Dahlan argued that honoring the sacrifices of Gazans required reforming the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization. He called for the restoration of the right to choose leadership through elections, stating that people deserve institutions that safeguard their rights and act as guardians of their future.

Dahlan addressed the newlyweds directly, saying their joy was shared by all. He renewed his pledge to rebuild Gaza and make it more beautiful than before the conflict. He vowed to continue working until the people enjoyed freedom and dignity in an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. He also warned that Gaza would not be left alone to face Israeli aggression, criticizing leaders who had failed to fulfill their responsibilities toward the territory and the West Bank.

The initiative marks the third anniversary of Operation Gallant Knight 3. Dimitri Diliani, spokesperson for Fatah's Democratic Reform Faction, noted that the mission delivered more than 136,000 metric tons of assistance over the past three years. He said the aid helps families remain in Gaza by sustaining access to food, water, medical care, shelter, and education despite what he called the obstructionist policies of the State of Israel.

Dahlan, who was born in Gaza and now serves as a senior adviser to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, maintains a strong presence in the territory despite limited influence in the West Bank. An October poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that 55% of Palestinians had heard a lot about Dahlan, while only 9% were hearing of him for the first time.

The same polling organization surveyed voters in August and found that 15% named Dahlan as their preferred successor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. He trailed Fatah figure Marwan Barghouti, who received 39% support, but led Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, who received 16%. Regional differences were stark, with a joint Hamas-Dahlan electoral list drawing 30% support in Gaza compared to just 7% in the West Bank.

Diliani emphasized that the national priority is ensuring people can remain in their homeland. He stated that assistance which keeps families fed, children learning, and patients receiving treatment serves that goal. He concluded by saying these young couples deserve to establish homes and raise their children in safety in Gaza.