ASSOCIATED PRESS — June 7 — About 40 marriages have been arranged since Tayseer Association for Marriage and Development in Gaza opened its matchmaking department in 2007. Most women apply in secret because it’s taboo for women in Gaza to seek husbands outside the traditional route. Most girls are married in matches set up by their mothers. Dating is nearly nonexistent and love marriages are a novelty. The applicants, who pay a fee of $10-$70, are divided into categories according to their eligibility. Women under 25 are easiest to marry off; more challenging are women over 30 and divorcees.
The full article was originally published at Associated Press, but is no longer available.