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| UKPALMHN Solidarity Space Next meeting: Monday 28 April at 1pm (UK time) This is an open space where people exchange their emotional responses with a view to remaining resilient amidst a constant stream of distressing news. Please contact ukpalmhn@gmail.com if you would like to attend this meeting. National Demonstration – Nakba 77 Source: Palestine Solidarity Campaign Date: Saturday 17 May A national demonstration will be held in central London to mark the 77th anniversary of the 1948 Nakba, calling for government action to end the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. The event aims to raise awareness and show solidarity with the Palestinian people. https://palestinecampaign.org/events/national-demonstration-nakba-77 A haunting image of a young Gazan boy recovering from war injuries has been named World Press Photo of the Year for 2025 Source: BBC Date: 17 April The portrait, taken by Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf for the New York Times, shows nine-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour, who lost both arms in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City in March 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crm347kpljko ‘How do I live like this?’ asks Gaza boy who lost arms in Israeli attack Source: Al Jazeera Date: 18 April 2025 Nine-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour lost both arms in an Israeli drone strike and now resides in Qatar for treatment. He recounts undergoing surgery without anesthesia and struggles with daily activities, highlighting the dire conditions faced by injured children in Gaza. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/18/how-do-i-live-like-this-asks-gaza-boy-who-lost-arms-in-israeli-attack Honouring Palestinian Child’s Day This is a 2 ½ hour video. Full details about the event and speakers: https://www.pgmhn.org/calendar-of-events On the occasion of Palestine Child’s Day, Doctors Against Genocide, in partnership with the Palestine-Global Mental Health Network and Healthcare Workers for Palestine organised a Global Symposium: “Not Another Child.” Source: Palestine-Global Mental Health Network and Doctors Against Genocide Date: 6 April https://www.youtube.com/live/su8oOm8ulY8 In Gaza, a 15-year-old boy has lived through five wars Source: TRT World (3 minute video) Date: 15 April 2025 A 15-year-old boy in Gaza shares his experiences of enduring five wars, highlighting the profound psychological impact on children living under constant threat. The video features insights from Dr. Samah Jabr, who discusses the long-term mental health consequences of repeated trauma on Palestinian youth. https://www.facebook.com/trtworld/videos/3488501097946995 ICJ to hold public hearings on Israel’s duties regarding UN activities in Palestine Source: Palestine Chronicle Date: 10 April 2025 The International Court of Justice will conduct public hearings from 28 April to 2 May to assess Israel’s legal obligations concerning UN activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. This follows a UN General Assembly resolution responding to Israeli legislation that restricted UNRWA operations. https://www.palestinechronicle.com/icj-to-hold-public-hearings-on-israels-duties-regarding-un-activities-in-palestine/# Experiences of pain among Palestinian advanced cancer patients: a socio-cultural reading of reports from the Israeli occupied West Bank Source: Frontiers in Psychiatry (authors include Rita Giacaman and Weeam Hammoudeh)(open access) Date: 23 April The study highlights that social support and solidarity from family, friends, neighbours, and the broader community are vital for Palestinians with advanced cancer in managing both physical and existential pain. This support is perceived not merely as compassion but as a wajib (واجب)—a social and moral duty deeply embedded in cultural and religious expectations. Additionally, spiritual reliance on God (Tawwakul) provides psychological strength and communal resilience, further reinforcing the social fabric that sustains patients and their families through illness and end-of-life experiences. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1536839/full Unveiling health disparities in Palestine: a qualitative study of stakeholders’ perspectives Source: International Journal for Equity in Health (open access) Date: 16 April 2025 This study examines health disparities in Palestine, identifying political, socioeconomic, and systemic factors contributing to unequal healthcare access and outcomes. Stakeholders recommend policy reforms to enhance health equity, including integrating equity into policy frameworks and strengthening healthcare infrastructure. https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12939-025-02449-8 How trauma is scarring the lives of a million young Gazans Source: The National Date: 18 April 2025 UNICEF reports that nearly every child in Gaza is in need of mental health support due to ongoing conflict and instability. The article highlights the severe psychological toll on children, including nightmares, anxiety, and behavioral issues, exacerbated by the destruction of homes and schools. https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2025/04/19/gaza-children-trauma-mental-health-war-middle-east/ Where is the salvation, Smurfette? Source: The Electronic Intifada Date: 16 April 2025 In a Gaza City shelter camp, displaced children use puppetry to express their experiences of war and loss. Through characters like Smurfette and Antar, they convey the destruction of their homes and schools, highlighting the psychological impact of the conflict on young minds. https://electronicintifada.net/content/where-salvation-smurfette/50592 EVENTS Our Events page is updated weekly with events related to Palestine and mental health. As of 23 April, there are 12 up to date events listed. https://ukpalmhn.com/events/  FEATURED EVENT Psychological perspectives on Palestine Source: The Palestine Interdisciplinary Research Network Date: Wednesday 7 May from 4.30pm – 6.00pm This online event will explore the psychological dimensions of the Palestinian experience, focusing on the mental health impacts of occupation, displacement, and resistance. Speakers include Palestinian and international mental health professionals who will share insights and strategies for solidarity. Register here: https://universityofsussex.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RH4O8-V5RnKWFl9zTuuECA ACTIONS Our Featured Action is available below and also on our dedicated Actions page together with a range of other current actions https://ukpalmhn.com/gaza-crisis/ FEATURED ACTION Microsoft: Stop providing support to the Israeli military Source: Ekō Date: 7 April 2025 A petition urges Microsoft to cease its support for the Israeli military, highlighting the company’s provision of cloud services and infrastructure that allegedly facilitate military operations in Gaza. https://action.eko.org/a/microsoft-stop-providing-support-to-the-israeli-military Microsoft faces growing unrest over role in Israel’s war on Gaza: ‘Close to a tipping point’ Source: The Guardian Date: 18 April 2025 Microsoft employees have intensified protests against the company’s provision of AI and cloud services to the Israeli military, disrupting events and forming groups like “No Azure for Apartheid.” Several employees have been fired following these actions, highlighting internal tensions over ethical concerns and transparency. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/18/microsoft-ai-israel-gaza-war BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS (BDS)A founding aim of the UK-Palestine Mental Health Network is to “encourage our colleagues individually and collectively to consider their response to the Palestinian call for boycott, sanctions and divestment (BDS).” Details of new campaign: https://x.com/PSCupdates/status/1899780352979112277 Launch event on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyZ5DPLWdyQ |
الشبكة البريطانية الفلسطينية للصحة النفسية 