One hundred Palestinian couples are set to get married at a mass wedding in Istanbul. The ceremony on Saturday will be organized by Turkey's Mehir Foundation at Sultanbeyli Sports Hall, with the support of the Sultanbeyli municipality, the Mehir Family Foundation, and the Association of Palestinian Scholars.

Four trucks loaded with household goods for the couples set out yesterday from central Konya province. "The trucks are loaded with goods including clothing, home textiles, furniture and gold jewelry," said Aygül Erdem, head of the foundation. Erdem invited the public to the ceremony.

Turkey maintains close ties with Palestinians and leads the efforts to aid disadvantaged Palestinians both through state-run aid agencies and non-governmental organizations.