UKPALMHN Solidarity Space Next meeting: Monday 12 May 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 a link to 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 The UK-Palestine Mental Health Network banner will be at the march. We will assemble at 12:30 in Charing Cross Station close to Platform 1. All are welcome to join us. Left speechless: Trauma leaving children in Gaza unable to communicate Source: Index on Censorship Date: 29 April Palestinian mental health experts describe children in Gaza exhibiting trauma-induced mutism, silence, and dissociation. The article connects this to the broader collapse of mental health services under siege. https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2025/04/left-speechless-trauma-leaving-children-gaza-unable-communicate/ Gaza genocide: Remember the moment that shook you into caring Source: Middle East Eye (Opinion) Date: 29 April “Remember that it was not an anomaly, but one of hundreds of thousands of moments, each as devastating and urgent.” https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/gaza-genocide-remember-moment-shook-you-caring Children starving in Gaza due to food shortages, charities say Source: ITV News Date: 4 May As Israel’s blockade on supplies into Gaza enters it’s third month, desperate scenes of hunger and need can be seen across the territory as ITV News reports. https://www.itv.com/news/2025-05-04/catastrophic-children-starving-in-gaza-due-to-food-shortages-charities-say Gaza: A mother’s search for food Source: The Independent Date: 5 May This report follows a mother navigating food shortages in Gaza. While focused on survival, it touches indirectly on psychological stress and maternal distress. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/israel-gaza-mothers-khan-younis-rice-b2744014.html In the West Bank, the media describes “relative calm.” Our reality couldn’t be more different Source: Mondoweiss Date: 30 April This first-person account contrasts international headlines with the daily fear and unpredictability of life under occupation. The narrative evokes the sustained psychological strain. https://mondoweiss.net/2025/04/in-the-west-bank-the-media-describes-relative-calm-our-reality-couldnt-be-more-different/ How Israel Became A Fascist State | Aaron Bastani meets Ilan Pappé They discuss the origins of Britain’s Israel lobby, the indoctrination of Israelis and whether the recent atrocities committed in Gaza and the West Bank are signs of Israel’s imminent collapse. Source: Novara Media (1-hour YouTube interview) Date: 20 April https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9rr3j7vZGo&list=PL9f7WaXxDSUrEWXNZ_wO8tML0KjIL8d56&index=3&t=267s Oh Big Blue (digital download) A collection of poems and illustrations by children aged 9 to 17 from Palestine. They are some of the Palestinian entries from the 2024 Hands Up Project poetry competition presented here in the form in which they were originally received. Available in digital and hardcopy format at: https://www.handsupproject.org/shop/ Az Theatre & Theatre for Everyone (Gaza) seeking contacts Az Theatre & Theatre for Everyone (Gaza) are hoping to build links with organisations, groups, or individuals who would be interested in working with Palestinian groups and organisations in the areas of disability, housing/displacement, detainees and food sovereignty. Please check out the link: https://aztheatre.org.uk/palestine-repair-return-theatre-for-everybody-gaza-az-theatre-london/ These events are public conversations exploring how values and insights might converge with the prospect of joint action later. We would love to have you on board. Please contact: naomiruthcole@gmail.com UKPALMHN mailing – Call for volunteers We would like to provide more comprehensive listings of events and actions that are relevant to Palestine and mental health. The problem is that this information is spread across a wide range of sites and social media channels and is in a range of different formats. We are looking for volunteers who could allocate about an hour a week to scan selected sites or channels for relevant items and send this information through to our email address. Please write to ukpalmhn@gmail.com if you are interested or would like more information. EVENTSOur Events page is updated weekly with events related to Palestine and mental health. As of 7 May, there are 18 up to date events listed. https://ukpalmhn.com/events/ FEATURED EVENT 6:30pm to 8:00pm UK TIME https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uO_yxhYPStGDtxKdhQ5OMw#/registration

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

Email your MP: Recognise Palestine now, Sir Keir: it’s time to lead, not follow
An urgent letter from Andrew Whitley, Chair of the Britain Palestine Project
https://britainpalestineproject.org/recognise-palestine-now-britain-should-lead-not-follow/

“Today there is a rare chance to persuade our Government to take positive action on Palestine/Israel. France aims to recognise the state of Palestine by June. Our Government has been dragging its feet, despite a clear Labour manifesto commitment. Please consider writing to your MP urging our Prime Minister to act before June. Historically and morally, it is us British who have “form” on Palestine. Recognition of Palestine supports the Palestinian right to self-determination, which Mr Netanyahu seeks to destroy. Recognition is not the only action our Government needs to take. But it is do-able, and there are signs that the Government is considering emulating France. Now is the time to press the point.”The suggested letter can be found at this link together with an easy way to send the letter to your MP.
https://balfourproject.eaction.org.uk/recognisepalestine-8522

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).”

New Don’t Buy Apartheid campaign:
https://x.com/PSCupdates/status/1899780352979112277