Gaza – Abeer Harb waited six hours for her fiancé’s body to be rescued from under the rubble.
The 24-year-old had only been engaged to Ismail Dweik since June, and the couple were busy preparing for their wedding when an Israeli airstrike destroyed Ismail’s home in the southern Gaza Strip.
Ismail, a 30-year-old who is ready to start a new life with Abeer, was killed on August 6, the second day of Israel’s three-day bombardment of the narrow coastal enclave, which has faced numerous attacks in what has now been a 15-year history of Israeli Blockade.
He was among 49 Palestinians killed in the latest round of fighting Israel says was aimed at Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an armed group active in the Gaza Strip. Almost half of those killed were civilians, Palestinian officials said.
Israel said the attack was a “pre-emptive strike” against Islamic Jihad, which is said to be planning attacks in Israel.
Abeer told Al Jazeera that Ismail’s family invited her family to lunch but they didn’t go because of the fighting.
Ismail told her that he would come soon and visit her instead, but it was a journey he was not destined to take.
“In the Al-Shaout camp, where my fiancé’s family lived, news of a house that had been bombed was mounting,” Abeer said. “I immediately grabbed my cell phone to call him but he didn’t answer. I got scared and started crying so hard.”
According to his family, Ismail had returned home shortly before the bombing and was killed along with his mother. The attack appeared to target the home of Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander Khaled Mansour in the southern Gaza Strip.
“My eyes wouldn’t close all night as I watched the bodies and wounded being pulled out from under the rubble,” Abeer said as she wept, struggling to speak. “I prayed to God that Ismail is still alive. I told myself I’d be happy if his leg was amputated or something. The important thing would be that he was alive.”
Abeer Harab mourns the loss of her fiancé, Ismail, who was killed with his mother in an Israeli attack in the southern Gaza Strip [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]
“I was devastated when I heard the news. I felt like my life had been stolen from me,” Abeer said. “My fiancé Ismail was very kind and generous and had a modest home prepared for us.”
Abeer and Ismail’s story highlights the conflict’s impact on daily life in Gaza, with ways of life changing or ending in the blink of an eye.
“I still feel like I’m in a big nightmare. I don’t want to believe what happened. Israel destroyed my dreams and stole my joy with my fiancé.”
Wedding day tragedy
What was supposed to be the happiest day of Akram Abu Qaeda’s life quickly turned into a disaster.
The 24-year-old’s wedding anniversary was supposed to be on August 6th. There was to be a party and a chance to reunite with family and friends and officially start his new life with his bride.
Mohammed, Akram’s father, had explained that after the Israeli bombing began, out of respect for those killed, the family made the decision to bring Akram’s bride home without a wedding ceremony.
Mohammed Abu Qaeda opened the room he and his wife Naema had prepared for his son Akram’s wedding [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]
“According to Gaza traditions, I, my wife and my family left our home in Beit Hanoun [in the northern Gaza Strip]and went to the bride’s house to complete the wedding ceremony and take “the bride” to the house of marriage,” Mohammed Al Jazeera said on behalf of Akram, who was too shaken by the tragedy to speak.
On the way to the bride’s family, the car in which the groom’s mother, Naema, was traveling was hit by an Israeli airstrike, killing them instantly and injuring five family members, including children.
“It was a horrible scene. I didn’t know what happened. A missile hit my wife as she was getting out of the car and she was cut to pieces,” said Mohammed.
“The atmosphere of joy turned into a funeral in a few moments,” he added. “What is our fault? What is the fault of my son, the bridegroom, who will live with a painful memory that will haunt him throughout his life?
After losing his wife and the mother of his children, Mohammed is now worried about the mental health of his son and his new daughter-in-law, who has stayed at her family home for the time being.
“After all this, who wants to be happy or get married?”
Postponements and Cancellations
The majority of Palestinians in Gaza who were planning their weddings were fortunate to avoid physical casualties during the recent outbreak of conflict.
However, as is often the case in Gaza, the fighting has disrupted long-planned events and ultimately prevented people from leading their lives normally.
Maysa Maliha and Ahmed Zaqout had planned to celebrate their wedding on August 7 during Gaza’s busy summer wedding season.
The fighting marked a postponement, but only a short one, and the pair pushed the date back to August 12, a few days after the conflict ended.
While the rest of Gaza recovered, Maysa and Ahmed rushed to resume their lives and make new arrangements after quickly canceling their plans after the Israeli attack began.
Ahmed Zaqout and his bride Maysa Maliha at a photo shoot on their wedding day, days after the fighting ended [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]
“This is the worst thing about life in Gaza. Planning is non-existent, you cannot plan your life on your terms.” Maysa told Al Jazeera. “There are always surprises and developments in the political and security situation that disrupt your personal life plans.”
The couple decided to hold their wedding reception but scaled back the celebrations.
“We dreamed of a big party and did what we wanted,” Maysa said. “But for fear of another escalation, we decided to content ourselves with a short silent party.”
“What happened in those three days made me want to have my anniversary and be happy even if my heart is sad,” the bride said. “There is a very small space for happiness in Gaza and you never know what might happen to you.”