Married life at fourteen

Married life at fourteen

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Young Palestinian groom Ahmed Soboh, 15, and his bride Tala, 14, stand inside Tala's house during their wedding party in the town of Beit Lahiya, near the border between Israel and the northern Gaza Strip.

The newlyweds live in the family's three-room home, sharing it with nine relatives. Ahmed works with his father as a road cleaner, earning $5 per day.

"I couldn’t avoid thinking that it looked as if she was dressing him for school."
Mohammed Salem, Reuters Photographer

I got a phone call from a friend asking if I wanted to photograph a wedding in Gaza. I told him I wasn’t interested but when he told me the groom was 15 years old and the bride was one year younger than him, I rushed to the location immediately.

After arriving I saw people celebrating in the street not far from the border between Israel and the northern Gaza Strip. Among them was a young Palestinian boy being carried on the shoulders of relatives and friends. I couldn’t believe that the boy was the groom until I asked him and he replied with a smile, “yes I am."

After he finished celebrating at a party held a day before the official wedding, he went to play with friends in the street where they enjoyed flavoured frozen drinks.

The second day I went back and continued covering the story, the official wedding was to take place that day. I was surprised when I saw the groom’s mother helping him put on his wedding suit. I couldn’t avoid thinking that it looked as if she was dressing him for school. After that he started combing his hair using a broken piece of a mirror.

I realised how poor the family was when I noticed that him and his wife share the three room house with the rest of the family, another nine people.

I asked the young groom if I could go with him into the house where the bride was getting prepared. When we entered the house, which was only next door, I realised that the family had not yet repaired the damage that was caused from an Israeli strike in 2009. When young Soboh looked at his bride and saw she was veiled, his face became frank and serious. At that moment the bride spoke to her groom and said, “lets smile and have our photo taken." One thing she forgot to do before posing for the photograph was to remove her veil.

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Slideshow

Ahmed kisses his future father-in-law a day before his wedding.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Ahmed kisses his future father-in-law a day before his wedding.

He is welcomed by his relatives a day before his marriage.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

He is welcomed by his relatives a day before his marriage.

The groom's mother adjusts his tie as he gets ready for the nuptials.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

The groom's mother adjusts his tie as he gets ready for the nuptials.

Ahmed shows the traditional henna designs which adorn his hands.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Ahmed shows the traditional henna designs which adorn his hands.

He sits on a motorcycle as he waits for the wedding.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

He sits on a motorcycle as he waits for the wedding.

Ahmed and Tala's young relatives take part in the wedding party.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Ahmed and Tala's young relatives take part in the wedding party.

Tala and Ahmed leave the bride's home.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Tala and Ahmed leave the bride's home.

The newly married couple pose for a photograph two days after their wedding.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

The newly married couple pose for a photograph two days after their wedding.

Tala washes dishes at her new home.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Tala washes dishes at her new home.

Tala feeds Ahmed, as they eat breakfast at home.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Tala feeds Ahmed, as they eat breakfast at home.

The couple share a simple meal.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

The couple share a simple meal.

Tala prepares tea on a gas cooker.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Tala prepares tea on a gas cooker.

Ahmed sits inside their bedroom.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Ahmed sits inside their bedroom.

Tala dresses herself as Ahmed is reflected in a mirror.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Tala dresses herself as Ahmed is reflected in a mirror.

The newlyweds ride a donkey cart on their way to Gaza's beach.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

The newlyweds ride a donkey cart on their way to Gaza's beach.

The couple take a stroll by the sea.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

The couple take a stroll by the sea.

Tala stands in the doorway of her new home.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Tala stands in the doorway of her new home.

Tala washes clothes in a plastic washing bowl.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Tala washes clothes in a plastic washing bowl.

And sweeps, as clothes dry on a washing line.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

And sweeps, as clothes dry on a washing line.

The couple watch a video of their wedding day.
. BEIT LAHIYA, Palestinian Territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

The couple watch a video of their wedding day.