Taher marries Rita after sneaking in through tunnels

Rita Isaac is a reporter from Gaza and Taher Musilmani is a film Director from Kafar Qare’e village which was occupied in 1948. They are both Palestinian, but are separated by numerous Israeli barriers. However, they were connected over the internet one day when Taher saw Rita’s picture on Facebook and fell in love with her. It marked the beginning of a love story that no Israeli barrier could come between. Rita and Taher had initially wanted to meet and marry in the West Bank, but Israel denied them permission to travel. Their second preference was to marry in Egypt, but problems at the Rafah border ensured that it was also impossible. Running out of options, Taher suggestedthat he could travel to Gaza through one of its secret tunnels, but Rita refused because she was worried about his safety. However, Taher was determined, and drew up a secret plan. One day, Rita received a phone call from Taher saying: “I’m in the Al Nasr area in Gaza.” In complete disbelief, Rita rushed to where Taher was staying. Taher had crept through the Rafah tunnels. They got formally married later that day and changed Rita’s surname into his, leaving Gaza together. However, their exit from Gaza proved complicated. Taher was arrested at the border by the Israeli authorities for allegedly cooperating with Hamas.He was held in detention for 23 days and released only after the Israeli authorities received their marriage certificate. Taher is now required to stay in his village for the next six months, but has remained upbeat, saying “Maybe in a year or so, God willing, Rita and I will be together.” Rita told Arabstoday that her relationship with Taher began through working and talking about films in Gaza. They met after he saw film that Rita had directed. He was amazed that a woman from Gaza could direct a film despite everything that is going on. Rita and Taher were friends for five months; she thought he was polite and ethical, but had some concerns because men living in occupied areas have a reputation because of the conditions they live under. However, Taher turned out to be an ambitious man who loved his job. Five months later, Taher proposed, which she found unusual under the circumstances. He insisted that they got Islamically married over the phone through their fathers. Although Taher and Rita are now formally married, they still face many obstacles, including that Taher is still confined in his village. However, Rita remains undeterred. “I will sacrifice anything for my husband the same way he made a huge sacrifice for me; I will be waiting for him and we will find another country to live in.”