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 inside Charing Cross Railway Station close to Platform 1. All are welcome to join us. UKPALMHN Solidarity Space Next meeting: Monday 19 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. A powerful, first-hand, recent account of life in Tulkarm and the West Bank Gwyn Daniel, a UK-Palestine Mental Health Network Steering Group member writes: “When I visited the West Bank in late April, I had hoped to visit SD, a dear friend from Oxford. However it proved too dangerous either for me to go to Tulkarm or for her to visit me in Ramallah. This is a direct result of the deliberate fragmentation of Palestine, the severing of connections between its citizens and the ‘slow genocide’ and ethnic cleansing currently perpetrated in the West Bank. SD agreed to write for us about her experience and this powerful piece is the result. Because of safety concerns she is not giving her full name.” Here is the beginning of SD’s account: “When I was first asked to write this piece, I was too anxious and hesitant. Expressing pain has never been easy for me. I have long struggled to find the right words, because they collapse, even when I try to articulate what truly hurts. Some feelings and fears are too vast and too abstract for the language to express, especially if the trauma is still unfolding before our eyes, and growing more brutal and vicious day by day. The innumerable sufferings, pain, and losses in Gaza are beyond my ken. The silence is not apathy, but rather, it is deep respect for a people’s innumerable sufferings, pain and losses. How could I, when our beloved brothers and sisters in Gaza are being annihilated before the whole world, dare to speak about pain? But silence becomes a very heavy burden. Over time, I have come to understand that breaking it is not a betrayal to our people in Gaza. Even if my words can barely capture a few aspects of this egregious reality we are witnessing daily, they must be said and documented for generations to come. Documenting history is refusing and resisting all the attempts of erasure. We share this land, we share its history, and this deep pain. The genocide is indeed very fast and merciless in Gaza; however, elsewhere in Palestine, it is taking place more slowly but inexorably. Full account (4 pages): https://ukpalmhn.com/resources/my-window-is-my-world/ Unified call to confront famine in Gaza: Launch a diplomatic humanitarian convoy now “We urge states to join the humanitarian convoy by dispatching official diplomatic missions -at the highest possible level- to accompany the aid trucks already waiting at the Rafah Crossing, and to enter Gaza alongside them. This is an act of legal obligation, moral courage, and human solidarity. […]” The UK-Palestine Mental Health Network has added its name to this open letter. The letter is still open for signature by organisation. Full text: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0aS1-xJDQFisnOABeT9Dnsw3KVygM2Wp9YB32at2J-XeARw/viewform If you were shocked by my film on Israeli settlers in the West Bank, you haven’t been paying attention Source: The Guardian Date: 10 May Louis Theroux reflects on the reaction to his documentary about Israeli settlers in the West Bank, noting that the extremism depicted is now part of mainstream Israeli politics. He emphasizes that the film only scratches the surface of the systemic oppression faced by Palestinians under occupation. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/10/louis-theroux-documentary-on-israeli-settlers-in-the-west-bank Gazans reject new US-Israeli food distribution scheme Source: The New Arab Date: 11 May A new US-Israeli plan to distribute food in Gaza has been met with rejection by Palestinians, who view it as a means of control rather than genuine aid. The initiative proposes heavily guarded distribution centres, bypassing established UN agencies and raising concerns over sovereignty and dignity. https://www.newarab.com/news/gazans-reject-new-us-israeli-food-distribution-scheme Voicenotes from Gaza: ‘I can’t bear to see my children fighting over a loaf of bread’ Source: The Irish Times Date: 11 May First-hand accounts from Gaza reveal the severe impact of famine, with families struggling to find basic food and children competing for scarce resources. The ongoing siege has led to widespread hunger, deteriorating mental health, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. https://www.irishtimes.com/world/middle-east/2025/05/11/voices-from-gaza-famine-is-not-just-a-word-it-is-our-reality/ Israel is starving us in Gaza. This is what that feels like Source: The Guardian Date: 6 May Aya Al-Hattab describes the daily reality of hunger in Gaza, where food and medicine have been blocked for nearly two months. She recounts going days without food and the emotional toll of watching her family struggle to find basic sustenance. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/06/israel-starving-gaza-blockade-hunger Israel’s militarised aid system will turn life saving humanitarian aid into a tool of oppression and violence Source: Medical Aid for Palestinians Date: 6 May Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) condemns Israel’s plan to replace the existing humanitarian system in Gaza with a military-controlled apparatus. MAP warns that this approach weaponises aid, undermines humanitarian principles, and exacerbates the suffering of Palestinians under occupation. https://www.map.org.uk/news/archive/post/1735-israelas-militarised-aid-system-will-turn-life-saving-humanitarian-aid-into-a-tool-of-oppression-and-violence PCHR Releases Report on Torture and Genocide Against Palestinians from Gaza Source: Palestinian Centre for Human Rights Date: 12 May The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) has published a 129-page report documenting the systematic use of torture and inhumane treatment of Palestinians from Gaza detained by Israel since 7 October 2023. The report, entitled “Torture and Genocide: The Shattered Futures of Former Palestinian Detainees in Gaza”, is based on the testimonies of 100 former detainees, including 10 women, and legal visits to 53 others still in custody. The report concludes that the treatment of Palestinians from Gaza amounts to torture and that such torture forms an integral part of the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. https://pchrgaza.org/pchr-releases-report-on-torture-and-genocide-against-palestinians-from-gaza/ Film Review: ‘The Encampments’ is an inspiring call for liberation in response to the horror of genocide The documentary film “The Encampments” shares the inspiring story of how students brought Columbia University to a standstill, and the issue of Palestine to millions around the world. https://mondoweiss.net/2025/05/film-review-the-encampments-is-an-inspiring-call-for-liberation-in-response-to-the-horror-of-genocide/ Official trailer: https://youtu.be/wD3fpHjwsbw We will provide follow-up information when this film is available in the UK Bisan from Gaza Gives a heart-breaking account of her own situation and that of the wider community. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJUauaaMF7j/ EVENTS Our Events page is updated weekly with events related to Palestine and mental health. As of 14 May, there are 14 up to date events listed. https://ukpalmhn.com/events/ FEATURED EVENT Shubbak Festival 2025: A Window into Contemporary Arab Cultures Friday 23 May to 15 June across London Shubbak Festival 2025, running from 23 May to 15 June across London, showcases contemporary Arab cultures through diverse events, including theatre, music, visual arts, and fashion. Highlights feature the Khashabi Theatre’s performance of “MILK” and the “Art of the Palestinian Poster” exhibition. The festival aims to celebrate and promote Arab artists and their work.​ https://www.shubbak.co.uk/ Further information on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHLekOUI5PD/?igsh=MWlrNXVsMDVzbXRzYg== 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 Nakba Day – Workplace Day of Action Date: Thursday 15 May – all day at various workplaces Source: Palestine Solidarity Campaign Discuss with your colleagues in your branch about what kind of action is best suited to your workplace and its circumstances. Take action in your workplace: Organise a lunch-time walk-out Circulate a petition calling for the divestment of pension fund holdings Organise a letter writing session for your members to write to their local councillors Support the Don’t Buy Apartheid campaign by asking your workplace to commit not to stock Israeli fresh produce and Coca-Cola products Organise a lunch-time meeting, teach-in or film screening Distribute leaflets for the national demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 17 May in central London. https://palestinecampaign.org/events/nakba-day-workplace-day-of-action-for-palestine/ 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).” Don’t Buy Apartheid Palestine Solidarity Campaign Boycott Action The Campaign calls on all individuals, shops, cafés and venues to pledge to take two key actions to support Palestinians: boycott Israeli produce and boycott Coca-Cola. Watch the webinar to find out more about the campaign. Full details of the new campaign: https://x.com/PSCupdates/status/1899780352979112277 Launch event on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyZ5DPLWdyQ

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

PALESTINIANS ARE STARVING IN GAZA What action (big or small) is each of us going to take today? OPENING REMARKS AT PRESS BRIEFING TO PALESTINIAN JOURNALISTS BY JONATHAN WHITTALL, HEAD OF OFFICE FOR THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY FOR THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (OCHA) https://www.unocha.org/news/ocha-warns-deliberate-dismantling-life-gaza Gaza City, 26 April 2025 As prepared for delivery  Today, people are not surviving in Gaza – those who aren’t shot or bombed are slowly dying. They are being suffocated. What we see around us is endless suffering under a total and complete blockade, a total closure that has lasted now for almost two months while air strikes and ground operations intensify and displacement orders increase. We know that hospitals are overwhelmed, yet supplies are running out, and some of the sick and injured can’t be treated. We know that people are hungry and malnutrition rates are rising, but our warehouses are empty, bakeries are closed, and soon, community kitchens will be closing. We know that people are thirsty, but water wells are out of reach. We know that solid waste is piling up and sanitation conditions are deteriorating, but we can’t move the waste because landfills are unreachable and equipment unavailable. We know that people are trapped under the rubble, but there is limited fuel and limited machinery to rescue them. We know that land is shrinking with displacement orders, fishers shot at sea, and that nowhere is safe. We know that sewage is flowing in the streets, and we don’t have all the supplies needed to repair networks. We know that children need to learn, but schools are destroyed or inaccessible, and we don’t have education supplies. We know that prices of remaining goods are rising, but there is no cash available in Gaza. We know that there is no cooking gas or fuel and that people are burning trash to generate some energy. We know that UNRWA is irreplaceable but is under unprecedented pressure. We know that people are living on rubble, but we have no more tents to distribute. We know that this is not only about humanitarian needs but also about dignity. There is an assault on people’s dignity. We know that humanitarian workers, first responders and journalists – who should be protected, just like all civilians – are being killed in a war that appears to be fought without limits. People in Gaza tell me that they feel like it’s the deliberate dismantling of Palestinian life – in plain sight. Documented daily by all of you, Palestinian journalists. We have seen the images of children’s bodies being thrown from one building to another due to the force of a bombing. We have seen the videos of families being burnt alive. We have seen the bodies of our colleagues who have been killed. We have seen the total and complete destruction of infrastructure in Gaza all around us. We have seen patients having to be turned away after a hospital has been bombed and taken out of service. We can see every day, family members and friends of everyone in Gaza being killed or displaced. Together with you, we are witnessing these atrocities. As humanitarians, we can see that aid is being weaponized through its denial. There is no justification for this, and it has to stop. Lives depend on the blockade ending, aid flowing and a ceasefire being reinstated. I hope that we see real accountability – real accountability – before we see history judge those who watched what is happening in Gaza and did nothing. Posted on 26 April 2025 FEATURED ACTION Online Rally – Nakba 77 – Mobilise for Palestine Source: Palestine Solidarity Campaign (on YouTube) Date: Thursday 1 May at 7pm Hear from key speakers about how you can mobilise to take part in a series of actions in the week of Monday 12 May. These include a workplace day of action and build up to the 26th National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 17 May. These events mark the 77th anniversary of the 1947/8 Nakba which saw the ethnic cleansing of 750,000 Palestinian people from their homeland, and the destruction of over 500 cities, towns, and villages. This violence has never ended. The Nakba is ongoing with the current genocide its most extreme and brutal episode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_HNJRRGEqc See this page for our full list of actions: https://ukpalmhn.com/gaza-crisis/ UKPALMHN Solidarity Space Next meeting: Monday 5 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 email ukpalmhn@gmail.com if you would like to attend this meeting. National Demonstration – Nakba 77 Source: Palestine Solidarity Campaign Date: Saturday 17 May – Assemble at 12:00 Location: Assemble outside Embankment tube (more details to follow) 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 ‘It would be easier to die in an airstrike than die of hunger’: Gazans face famine as UN runs out of food Source: Mondoweiss Date: 29 April This report documents the growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where residents face imminent famine due to Israel’s blockade and the collapse of aid deliveries. Eyewitnesses and UN officials describe widespread starvation and desperation, particularly among children. https://mondoweiss.net/2025/04/it-would-be-easier-to-die-in-an-airstrike-than-die-of-hunger-gazans-face-famine-as-un-runs-out-of-food/ Where is Humanity? Does Anyone Still See Us? Report of Spring Study Tour to Palestine/Israel Source: Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) Date: 25 April The 15 internationals who participated in the recent ICAHD 11-day issue-based study tour to Palestine/Israel were repeatedly asked these questions. Palestinians are staggered by world governments that not only support Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, but who also facilitate it. Several expressed that they have no faith in the international community and question why people are so uninterested and dispassionate about their suffering and death. The tour programme took the group as far south as the Naqab (Negev), north into the Galilee, west to Jaffa, Tel Aviv and Haifa and east along the Jordan Valley. Most of the time, the group was based in Bethlehem and then it relocated to Nazareth during the last few days. https://icahd.org/2025/04/24/where-is-humanity-does-anyone-still-see-us-spring-study-tour-to-palestine-israel-2/ Psychological first aid for complex reactions: Six-episode video series from Palestine Source: MHPSS Hub Date: 24 April A new six-part video series produced in Palestine explores how Psychological First Aid (PFA) techniques can support individuals facing complex trauma reactions amid ongoing violence. Each episode provides practical guidance informed by local expertise and experience. https://mhpsshub.org/news/pfa-for-complex-reactions-six-episode-video-series-from-palestine/ A knock at the door Source: CounterPunch Date: 28 April By Lama Khouri, a member of the Palestine-Global Mental Health Network. “The scene has become tragically familiar in occupied Palestine: the pounding fists on the door in the dead of night, the splintering wood, the shouts in broken Arabic. Soldiers storm in, rifles raised, children jolt awake, and someone is taken for nothing more than attending a protest or being related to someone who did, or throwing a stone, or posting something on social media in protest to the atrocities committed against their own people […].” https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/04/28/a-knock-at-the-door/ Impact of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza on children’s health: Evidence and recommendations for mitigation Source:Global Public Health (Taylor & Francis Online) Date:22 April This article analyses the severe effects of Gaza’s ongoing humanitarian crisis on children’s physical and mental health. The authors provide evidence-based recommendations for mitigating the damage, including immediate interventions and structural changes. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17441692.2025.2495326 Mental health is still a human right during times of war Source: International Journal of Social Psychiatry (SAGE Journals) Date: 12 April This article explores how mental health professionals can respond to the suffering in Gaza through solidarity, ethical practice, and advocacy. It situates the crisis within a wider settler-colonial framework and stresses the need for global mental health communities to act. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00207640251331856 The healthcare community has a responsibility to highlight the ongoing destruction in Gaza Source: The BMJ Date: 12 April This opinion piece calls on global healthcare professionals to speak out against the destruction of Gaza’s health infrastructure under Israeli bombardment and blockade. The authors urge the medical community to uphold ethical responsibilities and resist political silencing. https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj.r741.full The Settlers Source: BBC Date: 27 April Louis Theroux spends time with the growing community of Israeli religious-nationalist settlers. Their settlements are illegal under international law, and they have been protected by the army, the police and the Israeli government. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002bm1y/louis-theroux-the-settlers A 12-minute summary of the programme from Novara Media https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqVjBDDiCCQ Support Dr Abu Safiya for Nobel Peace Prize Source: The Rights Forum Date: 26 April This petition calls for the nomination of Dr. Ghassan Abu Safiya, head of paediatrics at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his life-saving work under siege. It highlights global efforts to honour Palestinian medical professionals amid extreme conditions. https://rightsforum.org/petitie/support-dr-abu-safiya-nobel-peace-prize/#:~:text=In%20recognition%20of%20his%20extraordinary,for%20Gaza%20in%20the%20Netherlands EVENTS Our Events page is updated weekly with events related to Palestine and mental health. As of 30 April, there are 14 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 Actions are available on our dedicated Actions page. https://ukpalmhn.com/gaza-crisis/ 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).” Palestine Solidarity Campaign Boycott Action The Campaign calls on all individuals, shops, cafés and venues to pledge to take two key actions to support Palestinians: boycott Israeli produce and boycott Coca-Cola. Watch the webinar to find out more about the campaign. Full details of the new campaign: https://x.com/PSCupdates/status/1899780352979112277 Launch event on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyZ5DPLWdyQ

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

UKPALMHN Solidarity Space There will not be a Solidarity Space meeting on Easter Monday. The next meeting will be on Monday 28 April at 1pm (UK time) The link will be included in next week’s mailing. Program linking mental health practitioners with Palestinians in Britain impacted by the genocide in Gaza The UK Palestine Mental Health Network is collaborating with the British Palestinian Committee (BPC) on a program that links up mental health practitioners with Palestinians in Britain who have been impacted by the ongoing genocide in Gaza. With the Network’s help, the BPC has appointed a mental health coordinator who started work a few weeks ago. As one of the first steps in developing this area of work, there will be two upcoming focus groups for volunteer mental health practitioners. These are scheduled for Wednesday 23rd and Wednesday 30th April from 6:30-9:30pm and will be online (via Zoom). We have already identified a number of volunteer therapists who will be participating in these focus groups but if you would like to attend, you can register for the focus on April 23rd here or on 30th April here. Please note that this is the same focus group that is being offered twice so you will only need to attend one of the sessions. You must be a licensed and registered mental health practitioner in the UK to be able to attend these focus groups. Registration is necessary and only once you register will you receive the Zoom link to join. Family Therapists for Palestine: narrative of our group’s development, aims and activities over the past eighteen months “Family Therapists for Palestine is a safe space for those supporting Palestine and resisting the dehumanisation, apartheid, colonisation and genocide to which Palestinians are subjected. We frame our activity in terms of anti-racism and anti-colonialism, intersecting with other anti-racist practices within the systemic community. We meet monthly online and have a Google Group to help us bear witness and support each other, as well as share ideas and coordinate activities. Many of our members are active within the UK-Palestine Mental Health Network (UKPALMHN – https://ukpalmhn.com/) and are connected with Palestinian therapists and therapeutic organisations. […]” Full report: https://ukpalmhn.com/resources/family-therapists-for-palestine-update-april-2025/ Family Therapists for Palestine welcomes new members. Please contact Gwyn Daniel (danielgwyn@gmail.com) or, to join the Google Group, Joanne Early joanne.early@btinternet.co Gaza’s Unspoken Reality: The tremendous need for prioritizing mental healthcare Source: This Week in Palestine Date: April 2025 edition By Yasser Abu Jamei, the director general of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme For Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, the last eighteen months have been marked by three major interlinked calamities: A brutal war that has lasted over seventeen months; Multiple displacements; and health risks and hazards. https://thisweekinpalestine.com/gazas-unspoken-reality/ Long overdue release of Ahmad Manasra marks the start of a long and difficult path to recovery Source: Amnesty International Date: 10 April https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/04/israel-opt-long-overdue-release-of-ahmad-manasra-marks-the-start-of-a-long-and-difficult-path-to-recovery/ Statement from the Palestine-Global Mental Health Network https://www.pgmhn.org/statements/tjcnoc8x7zyy6woehh3b8wo816ub2c Strengthening International Accountability: Protecting the Rights of Children in Palestine Source: Defence for Children International (1-hour video) Date: 4 April In March, Defence for Children International held a side event to the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council. The event, moderated by Alex Kamarotos, Executive Director of DCI, with speakers including Mr. Khaled Quzmar, Director General of DCI-Palestine, and Ms. Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory since 1967. https://defenceforchildren.org/strengthening-international-accountability-protecting-the-rights-of-children-in-palestine-side-event-to-the-un-human-rights-council-58th-session/ Postpartum depression: perception, management, and help-seeking barriers in a Palestinian context: a qualitative study Source: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (open access) Date: 8 April Postpartum depression (PPD) is a global concern that adversely affects the well-being of mothers, their children, and their families. It is particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, where limited research has been conducted. This study aimed to examine the perspectives of mothers regarding PPD and to identify their help-seeking behaviours and barriers in a Palestinian context. https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-025-07457-8 Post-traumatic stress disorder among Al-Quds University students during the 2023 Gaza war: a cross-sectional study Source: BMC Psychiatry (open access) Date: 8 April This study assesses the prevalence of PTSD among Al-Quds University students during the 2023 Gaza war, highlighting a high rate of severe symptoms. It calls for trauma-informed mental health interventions tailored to students living in conflict zones. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40200227/ World must act with urgency to save Palestinians in Gaza Source: World Health Organization Date: 7 April UN agencies warn of catastrophic conditions in Gaza, where over two million people are trapped without humanitarian aid, food, fuel or medicine. They urge the international community to act immediately to prevent further loss of life and collapse of the health system. https://www.who.int/news/item/07-04-2025-world-must-act-with-urgency-to-save-palestinians-in-gaza UNRWA responded to over 3,000 cases requiring psycho-social support (mainly for children) in one week Source: UNRWA Date: 12 April https://www.instagram.com/p/DITsQGvM_Wu/?img_index=1 EVENTS Our Events page is updated weekly with events related to Palestine and mental health. As of 16 April, there are 12 up to date events listed. https://ukpalmhn.com/events/ FEATURED EVENTS both featured events take place on Thursday 17 April Palestine: Repair & Return- Stories of return and ongoing genocide Source: Theatre for Everybody (Gaza) and Az Theatre (London) Date: Thursday, April 17 at 6:30pm (UK time) This event, presented by Theatre for Everybody (Gaza) and Az Theatre (London), is a public conversation live from P21 Gallery and online, that presents testimonies, videos, live interventions, giving accounts of the return of the people of Gaza to their homes, both from the displaced tent encampments and from the prisons and torture centres in Israel. These will also include accounts of the consequences of the end of the ceasefire and of the escalation of the genocide in Gaza and the West Bank. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/palestine-repair-return-stories-of-return-and-ongoing-genocide-tickets-1302013771239 The Cage and the Spoon: Imprisonment and prisoners’ resistance in Palestine Date: Thursday April 17 at 6:30 pm Source: Makan – Education for Liberation Commemorating Palestinian Prisoners Day, Makan will be holding an online mini lecture that will: – Situate imprisonment as a settler colonial tool of control and subordination – Provide an overview of imprisonment across historic Palestine – Centre the efforts of Palestinian prisoners and wider civil society resisting these conditions Join us to learn more about imprisonment in Palestine on Palestinian Prisoners Day. https://www.makan.org.uk/event/the-cage-and-the-spoon-imprisonment-and-prisoners-resistance-in-palestine-online-mini-lecture/ 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 Parliament Lobby Day Date: Wednesday 14 May Location: Parliament The British government remains deeply complicit in the ongoing Nakba (catastrophe) against the Palestinian people, including the current genocide taking place in the Gaza Strip. This will only change through mass public pressure. You can help by joining the Palestine Solidarity Campaign lobbying MPs on Wednesday 14 May. Register here: https://palestinecampaign.eaction.online/MayLobby2025 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 CAMPAIGN: Today, we’re launching our Don’t Buy Apartheid campaign, calling on all individuals, shops, cafés and venues to pledge to take two key actions to support Palestinians: boycott Israeli produce and boycott Coca-Cola.

Watch below to learn more (1/8) pic.twitter.com/o7o4CxJLXa

— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) March 12, 2025

UKPALMHN Solidarity Space Next meeting: Monday 14 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. Zoom link: Please contact ukpalmhn@gmail.com for a link to this meeting. No Way But Forward; Life stories of three families in the Gaza Strip by Brian Barber Last week, members of our steering group attended an event in Oxford where Professor Brian Barber spoke about his recent book No Way But Forward, based on the life stories of three Gazan men and their families. This extremely moving and intimate account of the lives of Hammam, Khalil and Hussam – from their adolescence and youth during the first intifada through to the genocide now being unleashed on them and their community – is invaluable for two main reasons. First, the life story narration provides a uniquely detailed chronicle of what it means to try and carve out a future under brutal occupation, siege and bombardment and how every life transition has to be navigated in the context of deliberate obstacles to human growth and development. Second, by specifically focussing on the lives of men, Brian Barber provides a powerful counter-narrative to the dehumanising and stereotyping discourses about Palestinian men in Gaza which are propagated by Israel and its allies in the West. Reading this testimony creates a profound identification with and empathy for the three men and their families, rendering the last section of the book which consists of exchanges of WhatsApp messages with the author since the start of the genocide all the more poignant and anxiety provoking. https://www.amazon.com/No-Way-but-Forward-Families/dp/9695892825/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 Brian Barber will be holding a book launch at Palestine House in Central London on 21 April https://www.tickettailor.com/events/palestinehouse/1656352 Visualisation telling the stories of children whose lives and limbs have been stolen by Israel, while its destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system leaves them without vital care Source: Visualizing Palestine, DCIPalestine, and Palestine-Global Mental Health Network Date: 3 April https://x.com/visualizingpal/status/1907794041384710288/photo/1 More than one million children in Gaza deprived of aid for over a month Source: Unicef Date: 5 April No aid has been allowed into Gaza since 2 March, representing the longest period of aid blockage since the start of the war, resulting in shortages of food, safe water, shelter, and medical supplies. Unicef said that without these essentials, malnutrition, diseases and other preventable conditions will likely surge, leading to an increase in preventable child deaths. https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/04/1161931 The graver Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, the quieter the BBC grows by Jonathan Cook Source: Middle East Eye Date: 4 April Once again, the UK state broadcaster is missing in action – this time at the discovery of a mass grave of Palestinian emergency workers executed by Israel. https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/graver-israels-atrocities-gaza-quieter-bbc-grows Starvation and solitary confinement: 14 months in Israeli prison Source: Electronic Intifada Date: 3 April I have known Shaqoura, who is 37 years old, for four years. Our friendship developed while he was a trainer for a course I took on digital media in Gaza City in 2021. He works for the Palestine Today news agency and is married with five children. He is also a skilled cook and enjoys swimming and playing electronic strategy games, notably PES electronic football. […] We found no place to sit and talk except on the rubble of the destroyed houses around us. https://electronicintifada.net/content/starvation-and-solitary-confinement-14-months-israeli-prison/50555 Palestinian doctors ‘tortured into confessions’ in harrowing claims of abuse against Israel’s soldiers Source: The Independent Date: 1 April Dr Khaled Al-Serr, a surgeon at Al-Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, claims he was brutally beaten and other inmates told him they had been raped in Sde Teiman military detention centre, southern Israel. Chief International Correspondent Bel Trew reports. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/palestine-doctors-israel-torture-gaza-war-b2725438.html From Maternity Wards to Mass Graves: PRC briefs UK MPs on Gaza’s health on World Health Day Source: Palestinian Return Centre Date: 7 April Marking World Health Day under the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” the Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) has issued an urgent briefing to Members of the UK Parliament, drawing attention to the catastrophic collapse of the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip.The document, titled “No Healthy Beginnings in Gaza,” outlines the severe impact of ongoing Israeli bombardment and blockade on maternal and newborn health, amid widespread targeting of healthcare facilities and medical personnel. https://prc.org.uk/en/post/4909 Rethinking Trauma Against a Genocidal World: Palestinian healing Is a sound of our victory by Devin G. Atallah &Yasser M. Abu-Jamei Source: Journal of Palestine Studies (not open access) Date: 3 April In this essay, two Palestinian healers, mental health workers, and fathers […] reimagine the trauma that Indigenous communities face as a result of settler colonialism not as a “mental illness,” but as being connected to the silence and inability of the world to stop genocide in ways that protect collective Palestinian liberation. They conclude that Palestinian trauma is an intergenerational message to a genocidal world, requiring courageous listening in the face of the ongoing Nakba. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0377919X.2025.2481819 Gabor Maté explaining the feeling of moral injury, which we feel at the moment facing the genocide livestreamed on our phones every day – and why we must not give up Source: Palestinaforum Austrian Date: 5 April https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIDj8Rbs7xy EVENTSOur Events page is updated weekly with events related to Palestine and mental health. As of 9 April, there are 9 up to date events listed. https://ukpalmhn.com/events/ FEATURED EVENT London Book Launch: No Way but Forward by Brian K. Barber Mon 21 April Palestine House, WC1V 6JJ The book offers an intimate and profound look at life in Gaza over three decades—including the year following October 7, 2023, when the region faced unprecedented devastation and upheaval. This deeply moving narrative follows three men—Hammam, Hussam, and Khalil—as they build families, pursue education, and fight for justice in the face of unimaginable challenges. Barber, a psychologist and researcher, has developed genuine relationships with these families since 1995, allowing him to tell their stories with rare depth and authenticity. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/palestinehouse/1656352 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 Parliament Lobby Day Date: Wednesday 14 May Location: Parliament The British government remains deeply complicit in the ongoing Nakba (catastrophe) against the Palestinian people, including the current genocide taking place in the Gaza Strip. This will only change through mass public pressure. You can help by joining the Palestine Solidarity Campaign lobbying MPs on Wednesday 14 May. Register here: https://palestinecampaign.eaction.online/MayLobby2025

Boycott Day of Action: Don’t Buy Apartheid Sat 5 April https://palestinecampaign.org/events/dont-buy-apartheid-day-of-action/ UKPALMHN Solidarity Space Next meeting: Monday 7 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 a link to this meeting. Saturday 12 April – National Day of Demonstrations for Palestine More details to follow Gazans’ mental health reaches breaking point as Israel’s ceasefire violation sparks renewed trauma and despair Source: The New Arab Date: 25 March The article discusses the severe psychological distress experienced by Gaza’s residents following Israel’s violation of a ceasefire earlier this month. Many individuals are suffering from hallucinations, depression, and anxiety, highlighting the profound mental health crisis in the region. https://www.newarab.com/features/gazans-mental-state-breaking-point-after-ceasefire-violation Healing from Humiliation: A therapist’s guide to restoring dignity Source: Dr. Samah Jabr Date: 27 March Understanding, witnessing and restoring dignity. https://www.threads.net/@jabrsamah/post/DHtEh1KMhml A lifeline for women and children in the heart of war Source: UN Women Palestine Date: 25 March This feature story focuses on the efforts of a dedicated individual who has spent 17 years protecting women and children amid the horrors of war. Now, in the fifteenth month of a devastating conflict, her work continues to provide crucial support to those most vulnerable in the heart of war. https://palestine.unwomen.org/en/stories/feature-story/2025/03/a-lifeline-for-women-and-children-in-the-heart-of-war Inside Israel’s ‘torture’ jails where Palestinians held without charge tell of brutal treatment Source: The Independent Date: 29 March This investigative report exposes allegations of severe abuse, including torture and medical neglect, experienced by Palestinians detained without charge in Israeli facilities. The article highlights testimonies from detainees and underscores concerns about human rights violations within these detention centers. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-palestine-prison-west-bank-palestinians-b2705046.html New report: ‘Severed Bodies, Shattered Souls: Women in Gaza Victims of Genocide’ Source: Palestinian Centre for Human Rights Date: 26 March This report by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights documents cases of limb amputations among women in Gaza resulting from Israeli military aggression. It argues that these injuries constitute serious bodily harm under the Genocide Convention and highlights the profound physical and psychological impact on the affected women. https://pchrgaza.org/pchr-issues-new-report-severed-bodies-shattered-souls-women-in-gaza-victims-of-genocide/ Gaza: Restoring life beyond the physical structures Source: Al-Shabaka Date: 30 March This roundtable discussion features analysts Dena Qaddumi and Jehad Abusalim examining the challenges of rebuilding Gaza amid ongoing conflict. They critique the cycle of destruction and reconstruction, emphasizing the need for Palestinian-led initiatives that prioritize local needs and preserve Gaza’s identity and heritage. https://al-shabaka.org/roundtables/gaza-restoring-life–beyond-the-physical-structures/ Cooking up steadfastness in Gaza Source: The Electronic Intifada Date: 26 March This article explores how Gazans are adapting their cooking practices amid severe food shortages caused by Israel’s blockade and ongoing attacks. It highlights the resilience and creativity of families who modify traditional recipes using limited ingredients, viewing the act of cooking as a form of resistance and preservation of dignity. https://electronicintifada.net/content/cooking-steadfastness-gaza/50529 Israeli army killed over 1,400 medical staff in Gaza since start of genocide: Officials Source: The Cradle Date: 31 March This report states that the Israeli army has killed at least 1,402 medical personnel and 111 civil defense personnel in the Gaza Strip since the onset of the conflict. The article underscores the devastating impact on Gaza’s healthcare system and the challenges faced by medical professionals operating under siege conditions. https://thecradle.co/articles-id/29777 Video shows settler assault on small Palestinian village with rare clarity Source: Associated Press Date: 28 March Over a dozen Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian village in the southern Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday, beating residents with sticks and rocks, in an incident captured with rare clarity by security cameras. The video obtained by AP and testimonies from Palestinian witnesses appeared to conflict with the account of the attack provided by Israeli police and military, who arrested over 20 Palestinians afterwards. https://apnews.com/video/video-obtained-by-ap-shows-settler-assault-on-small-palestinian-village-with-rare-clarity-742da20c767449ef9497b1dc8bced50f From the Oscars to Israeli detention: the attack on No Other Land director Hamdan Ballal (podcast) Source: The Guardian (Today In Focus) Date: 28 March What does the attack on an Oscar-winning Palestinian director say about the situation in the West Bank today? https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-u2he6-249147bf The Palestine Red Crescent Mental Health Team’s ‘Dream Bus’ https://x.com/PalestineRCS/status/1901557688393244728 CALLING ON PSYCHIATRISTS: Collectively we can do more. What do our Palestinian colleagues want from us as psychiatrists? How can we mobilise our UK colleagues and professional bodies to do more for Palestine? Please join me in setting up a group of Psychiatrists-4-Palestine, under the umbrella of UKPALMHN, to focus and magnify our work. Interested in joining or finding out more? Please email me on: drhkhalifeh@gmail.com.  I am a Palestinian doctor, working as a Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist in an NHS London Trust. EVENTS Our Events page is updated weekly with events related to Palestine and mental health. As of 2 April, there are 11 up to date events listed. https://ukpalmhn.com/events/ FEATURED EVENT Palestinian Child’s Day Global Symposium Date: Sunday 6 April from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (UK time) Source: Doctors Against Genocide and Palestine-Global Mental Health Network invite you to a global symposium that brings together world-renowned human rights defenders, healthcare professionals, and scholars to confront the ongoing genocide of Palestinian children, the destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system, and the urgent need for global action. Speakers: Dr. Yasser Abu Jamei, Director General, Gaza Community Mental Health Programme; Co-founder, Palestine-Global Mental Health Network Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah, British-Palestinian war surgeon and frontline witness to the genocide in Gaza Lawyer Sahar Francis, Palestinian human rights defender and Director of Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association Dr. Nidal Jboor, Internist and Co-Founder of Doctors Against Genocide. Dr. Lama Khouri, Psychoanalyst and Co-Founder of Palestine Global-Mental Health Network Dr. Karameh Hawash Kuemmerle, Pediatric Neurologist and Co-Founder of Doctors Against Genocide Prof. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, Palestinian feminist scholar, Global Chair in Law at Queen Mary University of London; Co-founder of the Palestine-Global Mental Health Network and theorist of the concept of ‘unchilding’—the systematic erasure of Palestinian childhood through violence, surveillance, and dehumanization Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng: Special Rapporteur on the right of physical and mental health https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Hu5dfig9SDS8ChEWTR2SAQ#/registration ACTIONSOur 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 Don’t Buy Apartheid Saturday 5 April – Day of Action Palestine Solidarity Campaign Boycott Action The Campaign calls on all individuals, shops, cafés and venues to pledge to take two key actions to support Palestinians: boycott Israeli produce and boycott Coca-Cola. Watch the webinar to find out more about the campaign. Full details of the new campaign: https://x.com/PSCupdates/status/1899780352979112277 Launch event on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyZ5DPLWdyQ

UKPALMHN Solidarity Space Next meeting: Monday 31 March 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 write to ukpalmhn@gmail.com if you would like a link to this meeting. Update from UK-Palestine Child Psychotherapists The group continues to post regular updates on its Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/palestineukchildpsychotherapy/ A face-to-face planning meeting will take place on 26 April, including a lunchtime talk by a guest speaker. A request has been submitted for a table in the foyer of the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) Annual Conference to distribute materials and information related to Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Materials are being gathered, and further contributions are welcome. A new banner is being prepared for the group, incorporating the logos of No Child a Target, Doctors Against Genocide, and the Palestine-UK Child Psychotherapists. Three child psychotherapists will soon offer specialist training in response to a request from colleagues in Nablus. The training will support a local team working with parents whose children are experiencing severe anxiety, fear, and other forms of distress. Two of the therapists are Arabic speakers, and the third has conversational ability. Planning and consultation are under way, with an initial Zoom meeting scheduled for next week. https://ukpalmhn.com/child-psychotherapists-for-palestine/ Email: ukpalmhn@gmail.com CALLING ON PSYCHIATRISTS: Collectively we can do more. What do our Palestinian colleagues want from us as psychiatrists? How can we mobilise our UK colleagues and professional bodies to do more for Palestine? Please join me in setting up a group of Psychiatrists-4-Palestine, under the umbrella of UKPALMHN, to focus and magnify our work. Interested in joining or finding out more? Please email me on: drhkhalifeh@gmail.com.  I am a Palestinian doctor, working as a Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist in an NHS London Trust. The challenge of healing in a colonial war context — with Dr Samah Jabr Saturday 5 April from 5pm – 7pm (UK time) (webinar in French with simultaneous translation into English available) What can we learn from Frantz Fanon in order to make mental health in occupied Palestine a space of care, but also of struggle? Dr Samah Jabr, a Palestinian psychiatrist will explore the perspectives Fanon’s thoughts offer for understanding and caring in a context of colonial war. Like Fanon before her, she refuses to isolate her clinical work from the struggle for liberation. Dr. Jabr will be joined by several mental health specialists, members of the France, Belgium, and Italy Palestine Mental Health Networks. The presentation will be extended by a round table and Q&A. Registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTbR846t6Mbm01SZhSDi1siiXIF2iregYFop7GXpaMvsEK7w/viewform The impact of the Gaza 2023 war on health care workers’ mental health: a preliminary report Source: Middle East Current Psychiatry Date: 18 March This article presents early findings on the psychological effects of the 2023 Israeli assault on Gaza among health care workers. It highlights high levels of trauma, emotional exhaustion, and functional impairment, based on data gathered from frontline staff. The authors stress the urgent need for both mental health support and broader humanitarian protection for medical personnel. https://mecp.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s43045-025-00519-9‘ Mama, I’m tired – I want to die’: Israel’s strikes in Gaza leave a generation of Palestinian children traumatized Source: CNN Date: 18 March This report documents the psychological toll of Israel’s war on Gaza through the experiences of Palestinian children who have lost parents, siblings, and homes. Mental health professionals describe widespread signs of trauma, including night terrors, social withdrawal, and speech loss, in children across displacement shelters. The piece highlights both the emotional devastation and the lack of adequate mental health services amid ongoing bombardment. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/18/world/israels-strikes-in-gaza-palestinian-children-traumatized/index.html Trauma and sleep disruption in Gaza: a qualitative content analysis of war-related effects Source: BMC Psychology (open access) Date: 21 March Thematic content analysis of the interview transcripts led to the identification of five main themes. (1), sleepless nights amid constant fear (2), children’s sleep shattered by trauma. (3), the impact of overcrowded shelters on sleep. (4), mothers as guardians of sleepless nights. (5), health consequences of chronic sleep deprivation. The findings highlight the negative impact of war-related trauma on the sleep of Gazans, leading to various disturbances such as nightmares, particularly among children. https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-025-02599-y Why Palestinians can’t sleep Source: The Nation Date: 17 March This article explores the widespread sleep deprivation affecting Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank as a result of Israeli bombardment, displacement, and ongoing trauma. Drawing on interviews with mental health professionals and residents, it highlights how disrupted sleep patterns have become a marker of collective distress. The piece situates the crisis within the broader context of occupation, grief, and psychological exhaustion. https://www.thenation.com/article/world/palestine-sleep-crisis/ How the Israeli occupation further isolates autistic children Source: Middle East Eye Date: 22 March The Israeli occupation exacerbates the isolation of autistic children in the West Bank by imposing numerous challenges, such as navigating checkpoints and limited access to treatment options. These obstacles hinder their social integration and development. https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/israeli-occupation-further-isolates-autistic-children-how How a doctor treated Palestinian victims of Israeli torture Source: The Electronic Intifada Date: 20 March This piece profiles Dr. Gamal Joulani, a Palestinian physician who has spent years treating survivors of Israeli torture in occupied East Jerusalem. Drawing on his clinical experience and public health research, Dr. Joulani details the long-term psychological and physical effects of torture, as well as the systemic impunity that enables it. The article also highlights the emotional toll on health professionals working under occupation. https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/nora-barrows-friedman/how-doctor-treated-palestinian-victims-israeli-torture Gaza doctors describe scenes of ‘armageddon’ after Israeli strikes shatter ceasefire Source: The Independent Date: 19 March Following the collapse of a ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in over 400 deaths, overwhelming medical facilities. Doctors report severe shortages of essential supplies, including diesel for generators and surgical items, as they struggle to treat the injured. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/gaza-air-strikes-israel-bombings-palestine-hamas-hostages-b2717684.html EVENTS Our Events page is updated weekly with events related to Palestine and mental health. In the past two weeks it has attracted about 40 users per week. https://ukpalmhn.com/events/ FEATURED EVENT Palestine? Racism? The Ethical Challenges Facing Psychoanalytic Practitioners Friday 11 April at 6.30pm Frontline Club,31 Norfolk Place London W2 1QH (In person and online) Speakers: Dr Samah Jabr: “Voicing the Unspeakable: Psychoanalysis, Ethics, and the Silencing of Palestine” Fakhry Davids: “Psychoanalysts and Gaza: Neutrality as a defence” Chair Prof Lesley Caldwell This event, organised by the Psychoanalytic Voices for Palestine (PvP) group, aims to advance discussion on the ethical responsibilities of psychoanalytic practitioners. In a professional landscape where “analytic neutrality” is often upheld as an ideal, such neutrality can sometimes function as a way of shutting down both individual and organisational responses to political and humanitarian crises. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/palestineracism-ethical-challenges-facing-psychoanalytic-practitioners-tickets-1269040928579 Israel-Palestine: Is unresolved group trauma an obstacle for peace? Saturday 29 March from 9:00am– 5:30pm An IGA Open Workshop Institute of Group Analysis, 1 Daleham Gardens, London NW3 5BY Speakers: Gabrielle Rifkind, Dick Blackwell, Sue Einhorn, Arturo Ezquerro and María Cañete This open workshop arises from an article of the same name published in January 2025 by the journal Group Analysis. The article explores how collective trauma shapes both societies, with Palestinians experiencing ongoing psychological harm due to continued occupation and violence. It argues that addressing this asymmetry and the persistent trauma inflicted on Palestinians is crucial for any genuine path toward peace. https://www.groupanalysis.org/post/israel-palestine-unresolved-group-trauma-is-an-obstacle-for-peacepalestine-unresolved-group-trauma-is-an-obstacle-for-peace Journal article (paid-for): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/05333164241306348 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 https://palestinecampaign.org/events/dont-buy-apartheid-day-of-action/ 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).” Palestine Solidarity Campaign Boycott Action The Campaign launched on 19 March. It calls on all individuals, shops, cafés and venues to pledge to take two key actions to support Palestinians: boycott Israeli produce and boycott Coca-Cola. Watch this webinar on Wednesday 19 March to find out more about how to get involved in the Don’t Buy Apartheid campaign. Launch event on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyZ5DPLWdyQ Full details of the new campaign: https://x.com/PSCupdates/status/1899780352979112277 Oxford council passes Boycott Divestment and Sanctions motion Source: Middle East Eye Date: 26 March Oxford City Council has passed a motion supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, citing International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b36SnPNLqH0

New Palestine Solidarity Campaign boycott launching on Wednesday 19 March The Don’t Buy Apartheid campaign calls on all individuals, shops, restaurants, and businesses to take two key actions to support the Palestinian struggle for freedom: Boycott Israeli produce like avocados, oranges, herbs and dates. Boycott Coca-Cola and its brands Shweppes, Sprite, Fanta, Innocent, Appletiser, Smart Water and Costa Coffee. Recording of the launch event on Wednesday 19 March https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyZ5DPLWdyQ Campaign details: https://x.com/PSCupdates/status/1899780352979112277 UKPALMHN Solidarity Space Next meeting: Monday 24 March 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 write to ukpalmhn@gmail.com if you would like to attend this meeting. You may want to look at this short video before the meeting #SickFromGenocide https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEgQGsBM304/?igsh=YWI2NHN6cWR4MDFm Israel’s war on Gaza is deliberately targeting children, new UN Report Source: The Conversation Date: 19 March This article highlights that hostilities in Gaza have resumed following a brief ceasefire, during which Israeli forces continued to commit serious violations, including attacks on civilian infrastructure. It references a new UN report suggesting that Israel’s actions in Gaza, particularly the large-scale killing of civilians and destruction of essential services, may amount to genocide under international law. Women and children have been disproportionately affected, facing extreme violence, displacement, and a humanitarian crisis with little access to medical care and basic necessities. https://theconversation.com/israels-war-on-gaza-is-deliberately-targeting-children-new-un-report-252398 The UN Report alleges sexual violence against Palestinians by Israeli forces used as ‘method of war’ Source: UN News Date: 13 March Senior human rights investigators reporting to the UN Human Rights Council alleged on Thursday that sexual and gender-based violence by Israeli security forces against Palestinians – including children – have been increasingly used “as a method of war” following the 7 October 2023 attacks that sparked the Gaza war. https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/03/1161081 Full UN Report : ‘More than a human can bear’: Israel’s systematic use of sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence since 7 October 2023 https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session58/a-hrc-58-crp-6.pdf‘ Every pregnancy these days is a struggle’: Restoring life-saving healthcare in Gaza Source: UNFPA Date: 10 March The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) reports on the dire state of maternal healthcare in Gaza, where pregnant women face severe risks due to the destruction of hospitals and shortages of medical supplies. Urgent efforts are needed to restore essential reproductive health services. https://www.unfpa.org/news/%E2%80%9Cevery-pregnancy-these-days-struggle%E2%80%9D-restoring-life-saving-healthcare-gaza War in Gaza: The silent psychological suffering of women Source: ActionAid Palestine Date: 13 March This piece highlights the severe mental health impact of the war on women in Gaza, particularly those facing displacement, loss, and trauma. It discusses the lack of psychological support services and the urgent need for mental health care tailored to women’s needs. https://palestine.actionaid.org/news/2025/war-gaza-silent-psychological-suffering-women Lessons on disability justice and Palestine solidarity Source: Shado Magazine Date: 12 March This article explores the intersections of disability justice and Palestinian solidarity, highlighting the impact of occupation on disabled Palestinians. It advocates for a justice-based approach that recognises the unique struggles of disabled individuals under Israeli apartheid. https://shado-mag.com/act/lessons-on-disability-justice-and-palestine-solidarity/ Palestinian children remain deprived of the most essential supplies and services Source: UNICEF MENA Date: 16 March UNICEF highlights the dire situation faced by Palestinian children, who lack access to essential supplies such as food, water, and medical care. The organisation calls for urgent humanitarian intervention to prevent further suffering. https://www.unicef.org/mena/press-releases/palestinian-children-remain-deprived-most-essential-supplies-and-services Chris Hedges : Normalizing Genocide and the New World Order Source: The Sanctuary for Independent Media Date: 13 March (1hr and 40min video) A talk by Chris Hedges examining the erosion of humanitarian law and the global implications of the genocide in Gaza. The discussion, held ahead of his book A Genocide Foretold (2025), explored how the Global North’s violence, particularly amid the climate crisis, increasingly targets the Global South. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1iW2dm48_w EVENTS There are currently FIFTEEN up to date events related to Palestine and mental health available on our dedicated Events webpage: https://ukpalmhn.com/events/ FEATURED EVENT 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 Find the latest postings from the No Child A Target Campaign on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHUrJUNNJ-c/?img_index=1 Sign the Campaign petition here: https://www.change.org/p/nochildatarget 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). ”Seized, settled, let: how Airbnb and Booking.com help Israelis make money from stolen Palestinian land Source: The Guardian Date: 27 February An investigation reveals that Airbnb and Booking.com list rental properties in illegal Israeli settlements on seized Palestinian land. These listings, including luxury villas, are promoted as tourist accommodations despite ongoing conflicts and forced displacements. Activists argue that such activities violate international law and contribute to human rights abuses, urging these companies to cease operations in these areas. https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2025/feb/27/seized-settled-let-how-airbnb-and-bookingcom-help-israelis-make-money-from-stolen-palestinian-land From the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement https://bdsmovement.net/Guide-to-BDS-Boycott

National Demonstration for Palestine Location: Piccadilly (Green Park) Date: Saturday 15 March –  assemble at 12 noon As Israel intensifies its attacks on the West Bank and continue to threaten ethnic cleansing in Gaza we must continue to put pressure on our government to end support for Israel’s violence. https://palestinecampaign.org/events/national-demonstration-for-palestine-15-march/ Statement from the Palestine Coalition march organisers criticising the Police for unacceptable delays in agreeing the route of the march “It is difficult to escape the conclusion that this delay was politically motivated and deliberately designed to suppress participation …” https://palestinecampaign.org/palestine-coalition-statement-march-route-announced/ The UK-Palestine Mental Health Network will assemble at 12:15 with our banner by the statue of the goddess Diana inside the corner of Green Park directly opposite Green Park tube. There is a tunnel from Green Park tube directly to the statue in the Park. All are welcome to join us. UKPALMHN Solidarity Space Next meeting: Monday 17 March 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 write to ukpalmhn@gmail.com if you would like a link to this meeting. You may want to look at this short video before the meeting #SickFromGenocide https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEgQGsBM304/?igsh=YWI2NHN6cWR4MDFm UN agency says thousands in Gaza need mental health support Source: Middle East Eye Date: 8 March The UN warns that thousands of people in Gaza require urgent mental health support due to the trauma of war, displacement, and ongoing attacks. Humanitarian agencies stress the need for immediate psychological interventions alongside basic aid. https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/un-agency-says-thousands-gaza-need-mental-health-support?nid=418958&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=542825 Repercussions of the destruction of Gaza’s sole psychiatric hospital Source: Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal Date: 4 March This study analyses the consequences of Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s only psychiatric hospital, highlighting the severe impact on mental health care. It discusses the lack of alternative facilities and the worsening psychological crisis among Palestinians due to war and displacement. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389562417_Repercussions_of_the_destruction_of_Gaza%27s_sole_psychiatric_hospital Bakeries go dark in Gaza as Israel cuts off fuel to 2.1 million people Source: Mondoweiss Date: 9 March Israel’s fuel blockade has forced bakeries in Gaza to shut down, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis. With 2.1 million people facing extreme food shortages, aid groups warn of imminent famine as Israel continues to restrict essential supplies. https://mondoweiss.net/2025/03/bakeries-go-dark-in-gaza-as-israel-cuts-off-fuel-to-2-1-million-people/ Gaza Doctrine: West Bank Under Fire Source: B’Tselem (the largest human rights organisation in Israel) Date: 10 March B’Tselem reports that Israel is applying the same “Gaza Doctrine” of extreme violence to the occupied West Bank, resulting in an unprecedented surge in killings, home demolitions, and mass arrests. The report details how Israeli forces and settlers operate with impunity, escalating violence against Palestinians under the guise of security operations. It highlights the deliberate destruction of homes and livelihoods, aiming to make life unbearable for Palestinians and force displacement. B’Tselem calls for international intervention, warning that these actions amount to systematic war crimes that must be urgently addressed. https://www.btselem.org/gaza_doctrine_west_bank_under_fire West Bank: Large-scale house demolitions ongoing by Israeli forces Source: UNRWA Date: 6 March UNRWA condemns the continuing large-scale demolitions of Palestinian homes in the West Bank by Israeli forces. The statement warns of the humanitarian consequences and displacement of families, urging international intervention. https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/west-bank-large-scale-house-demolitions-ongoing-israeli-forces I’m a former BBC newsreader – Gaza is the reason I resigned Source: The Independent Date: 5 March The controversy over the pulling of the ‘How to Survive a Warzone’ documentary is a distraction from a much bigger problem my old employer has with impartiality, writes Karishma Patel https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/bbc-gaza-documentary-tim-davie-israel-b2708547.html Issa Amro from Hebron and Jeff Halper from Jerusalem nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2025 Source: ICAHD Date:  28 February Issa Amro is a Palestinian human rights activist born and raised in Hebron. Jeff Halper is the Director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions. https://icahd.org/2025/02/28/palestinian-and-israeli-human-rights-defenders-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/ When night becomes a battlefield Source: The Electronic Intifada Date: 6 March This article describes the intensified Israeli military assaults in Gaza during nighttime hours, leaving civilians in a state of perpetual fear and exhaustion. It explores the psychological impact of nighttime warfare, particularly on children and displaced families. https://electronicintifada.net/content/when-night-becomes-battlefield/50462 EVENTS There are currently FIFTEEN up to date events related to Palestine and mental health available on our dedicated Events webpage: https://ukpalmhn.com/events/ Here are two examples of events organised by other organisations. You can find these and similar events here Israel-Palestine: Is unresolved group trauma an obstacle for peace? Saturday 29 March from 9:00am– 5:30pm An IGA Open Workshop Institute of Group Analysis, 1 Daleham Gardens, London NW3 5BY Speakers: Gabrielle Rifkind, Dick Blackwell, Sue Einhorn, Arturo Ezquerro and María Cañete This open workshop arises from an article of the same name published in January 2025 by the journal Group Analysis. The article explores how collective trauma shapes both societies, with Palestinians experiencing ongoing psychological harm due to continued occupation and violence. It argues that addressing this asymmetry and the persistent trauma inflicted on Palestinians is crucial for any genuine path toward peace. https://www.groupanalysis.org/post/israel-palestine-unresolved-group-trauma-is-an-obstacle-for-peace Journal article (paid-for): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/05333164241306348 Palestine? Racism? The Ethical Challenges Facing Psychoanalytic Practitioners Friday 11 April at 6.30pm Frontline Club,31 Norfolk Place London W2 1QH (In person and online) Speakers: Dr Samah Jabr: “Voicing the Unspeakable: Psychoanalysis, Ethics, and the Silencing of Palestine” Fakhry Davids: “Psychoanalysts and Gaza: Neutrality as a defence” Chair Prof Lesley Caldwell This event, organised by the Psychoanalytic Voices for Palestine (PvP) group, aims to advance discussion on the ethical responsibilities of psychoanalytic practitioners. In a professional landscape where “analytic neutrality” is often upheld as an ideal, such neutrality can sometimes function as a way of shutting down both individual and organisational responses to political and humanitarian crises. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/palestineracism-ethical-challenges-facing-psychoanalytic-practitioners-tickets-1269040928579 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/ How to keep defending Palestine after the ceasefire From Dr. Samah Jabr, Former Head of Mental Health Unit, Palestinian Ministry of Health The fight for justice in Palestine doesn’t end with a ceasefire—it only shifts its form. Here’s how we can continue: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/samah-jabr-25509883_how-to-keep-defending-palestine-after-the-activity-7285238091311714304-Sy5a FEATURED CAMPAIGN Write to the Foreign Secretary: Israel must abide by the ceasefire agreement and lift the siege on Gaza A letter writing campaign from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Israel has reimposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip, with potentially devastating consequences. It is refusing to implement the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which would see a complete withdrawal of the Israeli military. Instead, it is using the threat of starvation in an attempt to impose new terms, in alliance with the US government. https://palestinecampaign.eaction.online/endgazasiegenow You can find information about more Actions here 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). ”Seized, settled, let: how Airbnb and Booking.com help Israelis make money from stolen Palestinian land Source: The Guardian Date: 27 February An investigation reveals that Airbnb and Booking.com list rental properties in illegal Israeli settlements on seized Palestinian land. These listings, including luxury villas, are promoted as tourist accommodations despite ongoing conflicts and forced displacements. Activists argue that such activities violate international law and contribute to human rights abuses, urging these companies to cease operations in these areas. https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2025/feb/27/seized-settled-let-how-airbnb-and-bookingcom-help-israelis-make-money-from-stolen-palestinian-land From the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement https://bdsmovement.net/Guide-to-BDS-Boycott The UK-Palestine Mental Health Network is one of 24 national mental health networks working under the umbrella of the Palestinian-led Palestine-Global Mental Health Network. Palestine, Algeria, Australia, Canada Chile Belgium, Brasil Egypt France Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, Tunisia, Türkiye, United Kingdom, United States