By Mahmoud Nasser

I was sitting on my couch when my phone rang. It was my uncle, Hassan. He told me that there was a bedouin wedding just outside Gaza City and asked if I wanted to attend and take some photographs.

I immediately accepted.

It was a beautiful spectacle. Everything looked fascinating: the people, the setting, the energy.

Some guests took Shisha. My uncle said it smelt funny.

Just a few moments later, several camels entered, one at a time. They ran in circles as the men climbed on their backs. 

My uncle was sure that there would be horses, too, but they didn’t arrive and I was disappointed. 

However, my disappointment didn’t last long, as the caravan of camels continued to amaze me.

Finally, the groom arrived atop a camel’s back wielding a rifle. His close relatives stood by his side, also wielding their guns. 

Then, the camel show came to a halt, and a traditional dance called ‘Dihya’ commenced.

Everyone started to dance an inch-perfect choreography. 

I had never been to a bedouin wedding before. It is something truly unusual. 

These are the small things that Gaza has to offer, the things that make life here worth living.

(All Photos: Mahmoud Nasser, The Palestine Chronicle)

– Mahmoud Nasser is a Gaza-based photographer. After spending 13 years outside his country, he decided to come back to photograph Gaza’s loss of life, suffering, and the consequences of war, but also the human stories and the love for life. He can be contacted at mahmoud-bn@hotmail.com.