Dear Colleagues,  1. Cafe Palestine 38 – Sat 24 Feb at 16:00 (UK) 2. ICAHD-UK webinar – Wed 21 Feb  18:00 (UK) 3. Open letter for Psychotherapists, psychologists and counsellors 4. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour – Mon 19 Feb 13:00 (UK) 1. Cafe Palestine 38 – Honouring the work of our colleagues in Gaza, part two Saturday 24 February from 16:00-18:00 (UK) / 18:00-20:00 (Pal) Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/UKPMHN/live_videos/ This second event will feature more of the work of some of the mental health teams that work in Gaza and highlight their professionalism, dedication and creativity. Since most colleagues in Gaza are cut off from electronic communication and have to focus on their own and their families’ survival, we wish to represent and honour them through our voices from outside. Presenters include: – Dr Alice Rothchild, who will provide an overview – Peter Jakob, Martin Fellacher and Michaela Fried from Bridges for Hope and Peace – David Denborough from the Dulwich centre, Adelaide, Australia They will all describe their collaborations with colleagues in Gaza Alice Rothchild, author, filmmaker, and physician, is focused on human rights and social justice. She writes and lectures widely, authored several books on health and human rights in Israel/Palestine, including Broken Promises, Broken Dreams: Stories of Jewish and Palestinian Trauma and Resilience and Condition Critical: Life and Death in Israel/Palestine, contributed to a number of anthologies, the most recent being Reclaiming Judaism from Zionism: Stories of Personal Transformation and What Jerusalem Means to Us: Jewish Reflections and Perspectives.  Finding Melody Sullivan, is her young adult novel exploring grief and friendship in the setting of broader political questions raised by realities in Israel/Palestine, available in print and audio. Old Enough to Know, her middle grade novel, is about a nine-year-old Palestinian American boy and his grandmother from the Aida Refugee Camp. For more info: www.alicerothchildbooks.com. She directed a documentary film, Voices Across the Divide.  She is a member of Jewish Voice for Peace Health Advisory Council, the mentor liaison for We Are Not Numbers, a program for young Gaza writers, and on the board of the Gaza Mental Health Foundation. She was last in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza in August 2023. www.alicerothchild.com Further speaker bios will be sent out with the next mailing. The previous Cafe Palestine Zoom meeting was full with a maximum of 100 participants. In light of this, the Cafe Palestine on 24 February will be available both on Zoom and as a Facebook Live stream (addresses above). 2. ICAHD-UKwebinar: Attending to Mental Health Needs in the Midst of a Genocide Wednesday 21 February at 18:00-19.30 (UK) / 20:00-21.30 (Pal) Register for this Webinar here This webinar will focus on the importance of speaking about Palestinian mental health when Israel seeks to debilitate the whole of Palestinian society. Trauma is not new to Palestinians who have been experiencing it for the last 75 years. However, Israel’s war on Gaza that began in October 2023 has thrust the population into a living hell due to the ongoing assault as their homes and with the whole of their vital infrastructure annihilated, leaving no safe space for any Gazans. In addition, Palestinians everywhere are being affected as their people is on the receiving end of Israel’s barbaric genocide policies. This webinar will feature the work of mental health organisations working within Gaza, the West Bank and with Palestinians in the diaspora. Speakers include:- Samah Jabr (Chair of the Mental Health Unit at the Palestinian Ministry of Health) – Lama Khouri (Global Palestine Mental Health Network) – David Harrold (Chair of Trustees of Gaza Trauma Centre) – Gwyn Daniel (UK Palestine Mental Health Network) – Martin Kemp (UK Palestine Mental Health Network) Discover how much more ICAHD-uk’s website has to offer here. 3. Psychotherapists, psychologists and counsellors address the human catastrophe in Gaza: please sign A Statement expressing “dismay at the ongoing slaughter and mayhem in Gaza”, and which calls for a ceasefire and a peace based on a recognition of Palestinian rights and international law, has been issued by a group of UK-based clinicians. The Statement also reflects on the curtailment of “freedom of thought and speech” within society and the profession, and calls for a restoration of “freedom to speak and act peacefully without fear of recrimination, harassment or censure”. 160 members of the British Psychoanalytic Council have signed. A version of the Statement has now been launched as a call to all psychotherapists, psychologists and counsellors to amplify this message. Please sign at the link below. The Statement can be read and signed here: http://tinyurl.com/w59jat49 The BPC letter and signatories can be viewed here: http://tinyurl.com/3ukkazby The UKPMHN adds: The struggle for free speech within civil society cannot be done by individuals on their own. Does your professional association or registration body have a group within it ensuring that Palestine can be freely debated as a matter of grave concern to us all? Could you help set one up? 4.UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour Monday 19 February at 13:00 (UK) These informal events provide an opportunity to talk, swap ideas and take actions together. Please contact ukpalmhn@gmail.com if you would like a link to the meeting. All of the actions for this event and previous events can be found on: https://ukpalmhn.com/gaza-crisis/

Dear Colleagues,  1. UN relief chief warns military operations in Rafah could lead to a slaughter in Gaza 2. New evidence of Israeli attacks causing mass civilian casualties amid real risk of genocide 3. They shone with hope and joy, each in their own way – children killed in Gaza 4. Destruction of Gaza’s health system: need to restore hope 5. Palestine: A Timeline of Traumatic Events and Collective Healing 6. McDonald’s and Starbucks hit by boycotts 7. Letters for Palestinian childhoods exhibition 8. Scholars against the war on Palestine 9. 11-year old Dima Hnaideq describes her life as a child in Gaza Plus Recent pictures from Gaza from the Palestine Trauma Centre UK EVENTS National March for Palestine – Stop the Genocide Saturday 17 February at 12:00 Assemble at Marble Arch (Speakers’ Corner), London Israel has now killed over 30,000 Palestinians in its brutal assault on Gaza. It has now begun another massacre in Rafah. https://palestinecampaign.org/events/ The UKPALMHN banner will be at the march. We will assemble at 12:00 outside Bond Street tube on Oxford Street. All are welcome to join. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour Monday 19 February at 13:00 UK time These informal events provide an opportunity to talk, swap ideas and take actions together. Zoom link: please contact ukpalmhn@gmail.com if you would like to attend the meeting All of the actions for this event and previous events can be found on: https://ukpalmhn.com/gaza-crisis/ Cafe Palestine 38 – Honouring the work of our colleagues in Gaza, part two Saturday 24 February from 16:00 – 18:00 UK time This second event will feature more of the work of some of the mental health teams that work in Gaza and highlight their professionalism, dedication and creativity. Since most colleagues in Gaza are cut off from electronic communication and have to focus on their own and their families’ survival, we wish to represent and honour them through our voices from outside. Presenters include: – Dr Alice Rothschild, Jewish Voice for Peace, who will provide an overview; – Peter Jakob, Martin Fellacher and Michaela Fried from Bridges for Hope and Peace; – David Denborough from the Dulwich centre, Adelaide, Australia who will describe their collaborations with colleagues in Gaza Full programme details with speaker bios and Zoom link will be sent out in the next mailing. The previous Cafe Palestine Zoom meeting was full with a maximum of 100 participants. In light of this, the Cafe Palestine on 24 February will be available both on Zoom and as a live stream on Facebook. NEWS 1. UN relief chief warns military operations in Rafah could lead to a slaughter in Gaza Issued Tuesday 13 February The scenario we have long dreaded is unraveling at alarming speed. More than half of Gaza’s population – well over 1 million people – are crammed in Rafah, staring death in the face: They have little to eat, hardly any access to medical care, nowhere to sleep, nowhere safe to go. https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-warns-military-operations-rafah-could-lead-slaughter-gaza-and-put-fragile 2. Evidence of unlawful Israeli attacks in Gaza causing mass civilian casualties amid real risk of genocide Amnesty International report from Tuesday 12 February At least 95 civilians – nearly half of them children – killed in four unlawful strikes in Rafah. Attacks took place in southern governorate supposed to be “safe”. All four strikes are likely direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects and must be investigated as war crimes. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/02/israel-opt-new-evidence-of-unlawful-israeli-attacks-in-gaza-causing-mass-civilian-casualties-amid-real-risk-of-genocide/ 3. They shone with hope and joy, each in their own way Public memorial of children killed in Gaza A video showing some of the many children killed since Oct 7 in Gaza, their name and age. It draws on pictorial tributes from their friends and family. These are deeply felt public memorials depicting each child in the way that those who knew, loved and cared for them wanted them remembered. https://twitter.com/iraqbodycount/status/1755931780794790349 4. Destruction of Gaza’s health system: need to restore hope Balfour project recording of a presentation by Dr Nick Maynard (about 60 minutes) A presentation by a consultant surgeon from Oxford who works in Gaza and leads teams of international surgeons to teach and work in Gaza. https://balfourproject.org/gazahealth/ 5. Palestine: A Timeline of Traumatic Events and Collective Healing Infographic by Dr Samah Jabr, Zaynab Hinnawi and Eman Khateeb Slide through to explore the psychological impact of historical trauma and the path to healing for Palestinian communities. https://www.instagram.com/p/C3JN-IwS0na/?igsh=cXppN3o1cno5Z3Ft&img_index=1 6. McDonald’s and Starbucks blame the Israel-Hamas war for slower sales — and the recovery might take a while [One of the founding aims 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)] McDonald’s and Starbucks both said the Israel-Hamas war and related boycotts hurt their sales in the latest quarter. Starbucks saw traffic to its U.S. stores fall as occasional customers stopped visiting. McDonald’s said the war hurt its Middle Eastern sales, as well as demand in majority Muslim countries and France. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/05/mcdonalds-and-starbucks-blame-israel-hamas-war-for-slower-sales.html 7. Letters for Palestinian childhoods exhibition This is an exhibition of letters, poems, and artwork dedicated to the children of Palestine. The online version is available here: https://reimaginingchildhoodstudies.com/letters-for-palestinian-childhoods/ The exhibition is now also available as a physical/in-person display for use in halls and meeting rooms Please see this link if you would like to display the exhibition: https://ukpalmhn.com/resources/letters-for-palestinian-childhoods/ 8. Scholars against the war on Palestine A trans-national, cross-disciplinary coalition standing firmly with the Palestinian struggle for liberation and justice. We call for an immediate end to the century-long colonial war on Palestine and its people. https://scholarsagainstwar.org/ 9. 11-years old Dima Hnaideq describes her life as a child in Gaza Listen to 11-years old Dima Hnaideq when she describes her life as a child under the iron heel of Israeli occupation: homeless and displaced with her mother to shelters, starving, looking for water, no money, no school, no playing – and all her 11 years of life has been under siege, occupation and repeated Israeli attacks. She has one wish: ceasefire! Stop the war! https://twitter.com/DrMadsGilbert/status/1757390118313230732?s=20 Plus Recent pictures from Gaza from the Palestine Trauma Centre UK

Clown-led exercises for children shortly after bombardment

Hastily arranged group therapy for children

1. Parliamentary debate about humanitarian aid in Gaza on Thu 8 Feb 2. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour on Mon 12 Feb 3. UKPALMHN Cafe Palestine 38 on Sat 24 Feb 4. David Cameron has fallen for Israel’s dodgy dossier on UNRWA 5. Israel bombed Belgian aid office in Gaza after nation refused to halt UNRWA funding 6. In Gaza, there’s a war on women. Will the West ignore it because they’re “not like us”? 7. Children of Palestine: a lost generation 8. Israeli necro-politics and the pursuit of health justice in Palestine 9. Hundreds of US, EU, UK Civil Servants Issue Joint Statement on Gaza 10. UK professor suffered discrimination due to anti-Zionist beliefs, tribunal rules 11. Beyond bad apples. Reconsidering institutional racism Plus … Lament for Gaza on Irish Uileann pipes 1. Parliamentary debate about humanitarian aid in Gaza on Thursday 8 February Urge your MP to attend this crucial parliamentary debate taking place at Westminster Hall on Thursday 8 February at 1.30 pm. Full details of this action on the UKPALMHN website: https://ukpalmhn.com/gaza-crisis/ 2. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour Monday 12 February at 13:00 These informal events provide an opportunity to talk, swap ideas and take actions together. Please write to ukpalmhn@gmail.com if you would like a link to the meeting All of the actions for this event and previous events can be found on: https://ukpalmhn.com/gaza-crisis/ 3. UKPALMHN Cafe Palestine 38 on mental health in Gaza Saturday 24 February from 16:00 – 18:00 Further details to follow The previous Cafe Palestine Zoom meeting was full with a maximum of 100 participants. In light of this, the Cafe Palestine on 24 February will be available both on Zoom and as a live stream on Facebook. 4. David Cameron has fallen for Israel’s dodgy dossier on UNRWA Opinion piece by Peter Oborne Israel’s long history of making false claims about events in Gaza should arouse scepticism about its report on Unrwa staff taking part in the 7 October attacks. Not, it seems, in the UK. https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/defunding-unrwa-britain-cameron-falls-israel-dodgy-dossier-again 5. Israel bombed Belgian aid office in Gaza after nation refused to halt UNRWA funding Belgian officials expressed outrage Thursday after Israeli forces reportedly bombed the office building of the Belgian Agency for Development Cooperation in the Gaza Strip, an attack that came after Belgium declined to join the U.S. and more than a dozen other countries in cutting off funding to the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency. https://www.commondreams.org/news/israel-belgium-unrwa 6. In Gaza, there’s a war on women. Will the West really ignore it because they’re “not like us”? Mothers giving birth with no medical help, babies without milk, one toilet between 500 people – but none of it evokes empathy https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/05/gaza-war-women-west-mothers-babies-medical 7. Children of Palestine: a lost generation These are real children, children who could be yours or mine, but for accident of birth. Children that we know from social media had hopes and dreams for their future — to be doctors, lawyers, teachers, poets and writers, actors, dancers, to excel in sports. All that talent is lost to their community and our world. It’s devastating. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/children-palestine-lost-generation 8. Israeli necro-politics and the pursuit of health justice in Palestine A Commentary piece in BMJ Global Health Framing Palestinian violence on October 7 as provocation and Israeli violence as response is ahistoric and indicates indifference to the everyday violence experienced by Palestinians. The Israeli state practises both fast violence against Palestinians, while simultaneously creating the conditions for their ‘slow death’. https://gh.bmj.com/content/9/2/e014942 9. “Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide” – Hundreds of US, EU, UK Civil Servants Issue Joint Statement on Gaza More than 800 civil servants from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have released a statement criticizing their governments’ support of Israel in its ongoing aggression on Gaza, warning that such policies could be contributing to war crimes and violations of international law. https://www.palestinechronicle.com/ethnic-cleansing-and-genocide-hundreds-of-us-eu-uk-civil-servants-issue-joint-statement-on-gaza/ 10. UK professor suffered discrimination due to anti-Zionist beliefs, tribunal rules University of Bristol academic who was sacked after being accused of antisemitic comments wins ‘landmark’ decision https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/feb/05/uk-professor-suffered-discrimination-due-to-anti-zionist-beliefs-tribunal-rules 11. Beyond bad apples. Reconsidering institutional racism Mon 12 Feb at 19:00 – 20:30 GMT The webinar is organised by Lets Face Change and the speaker is Dr Tarek Younis. This webinar will focus on unpacking where the politics of the psy-disciplines and the politics of Muslims overlap, demonstrating how psychological theories and practice serve state interests and perpetuate inequality – especially racism and Islamophobia. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lets-face-change-seminar-series-reconsidering-institutional-racism-tickets-809233157157 Plus … Lament for Gaza on Irish Uileann pipes Kinvara Palestine Solidarity Group post showing Eugene Lambe play a lament for Gaza on Brigid’s Day. Https://twitter.com/TadhgHickey/status/1753456868687593498?s=20

1. National Demonstration – Ceasefire Now on Sat 3 Feb 2. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour on Mon 5 Feb 3. UKPALMHN Cafe Palestine 38 on Sat 24 Feb 4. UNRWA de-funding – template letter to MPs – aid agencies outraged by reckless decision – former UNRWA spokesperson puts up robust defence – donate to UNRWA 5. “Israel is now officially on trial for genocide” 6. Miscarriages in Gaza have increased 300% under Israeli bombing 7. Israeli sniper kills renowned Palestinian psychologist 8. “I am not there and I am not here”: a Palestinian American poet on bearing witness to atrocity plus … From the Republic of Ireland 1. National Demonstration – Ceasefire Now / Stop the Genocide in Gaza Saturday 3 February at 12:00 Assemble at BBC, Portland Place, London W1A 1AA https://palestinecampaign.org/events/ The UKPALMHN banner will be at the march. We will assemble at 12:00 on the corner of Regent Street and Great Castle Street outside Caffe Nero (near Oxford Circus underground). All are welcome to join. 2. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour Monday 5 February at 13:00 These informal events provide an opportunity to talk, swap ideas and take actions together. If you would like a Zoom link for the meeting, please email ukpalmhn@gmail.com All of the actions for this event and previous events can be found on: https://ukpalmhn.com/gaza-crisis/ 3. UKPALMHN Cafe Palestine 38 on mental health in Gaza Saturday 24 February from 16:00 – 18:00 Further details to follow The previous Cafe Palestine Zoom meeting was full with a maximum of 100 participants. In light of this, the Cafe Palestine on 24 February will be available both on Zoom and as a live stream on Facebook. 4. UNRWA de-funding 4a. UKPALMHN template letter to MPs Following the unconscionable decision by several western countries, including the UK, to suspend aid funding to UNRWA, UKPALMHN have drafted a template letter that can be used to communicate with your MP. It is available here: https://ukpalmhn.com/gaza-crisis/ 4b. Aid agencies “outraged” by “reckless” decision to cut UNRWA funding Agencies including Oxfam and Save the Children note Gaza population already facing famine due to Israeli siege and bombardment https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-unrwa-palestine-aid-funding-pause-hamas 4c. Former UNRWA spokesperson puts up robust defence – Allegations regarding Hamas weapons in UNRWA schools 6 minute video from Fox news https://youtu.be/sV-fWxBrz9c – Why defunding is a disproportionate response and amounts to collective punishment 12 minute video co-organised by Amnesty International UK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS5pdkDGh6Y 4c.Donate to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) https://donate.unrwa.org/-landing-page/en_EN 5. “Israel is now officially on trial for genocide” Palestinian Ambassador to the UK making a powerful intervention on BBC news about the ICJ ruling https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1459290391318551&id=627202943&mibextid=KsPBc6 6. Miscarriages in Gaza have increased 300% under Israeli bombing Humanitarian agencies say women and menstruating people are also facing alarming rates of severe infections due to Israel’s blockade of supplies and water. https://jezebel.com/miscarriages-in-gaza-have-increased-300-under-israeli-1851168680 7. Israeli sniper kills renowned Palestinian psychologist Tributes are pouring in to renowned Al-Aqsa University academic who focused on trauma arising from conflict https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/war-gaza-prominent-professor-al-aqsa-university-killed-israel 8. ‘I am not there and I am not here’: a Palestinian American poet on bearing witness to atrocity The thing about diaspora is that the option of looking away is a trick mirror – doing it is never a relief. In the courtroom, on our phones, in the streets: a witness who does not speak, does not act, does not remember, cannot be called upon. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/28/gaza-palestine-grief-essay-poetry Plus … From the Republic of Ireland:

1. Cafe Palestine 37 on Saturday 27 January at 16:00 – 18:00 (UK time) 2. Cafe Palestine 38 3. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour on Monday 29 Jan at 13:00 (UK time) 4. “I just want to run”: Mental health care yet another casualty of Gaza war 1. Cafe Palestine 37 – Honouring the work of our colleagues in Gaza Saturday 27 January at 16:00 – 18:00 UK time This event will feature the work of some of the mental health teams working in Gaza and highlight their professionalism, dedication and creativity and their ongoing activities, despite the catastrophic conditions inflicted upon them. Since most colleagues in Gaza are cut off from electronic communication and have to focus on their own and their families’ survival, we wish to represent and honour them in whatever ways we can, at present mainly through our voices from outside. Dr Samah Jabr, Head of the Mental Health Unit, Palestine Ministry of Health will speak about the mental health implications of the ongoing assault on the people of Gaza, their homes and their vital infrastructure. David Harrold and Dr Mohamed Altawil will speak about the work of the Palestine Trauma Centre in Gaza https://www.palestinetraumacentre.uk/ Nick Bilborough from the Hands Up Project will speak about their educational, creative writing and drama work with young people in Gaza https://www.handsupproject.org/ Mohammed Mukhaimar will speak about the work of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme In this Cafe we particularly welcome attendance from colleagues engaged in different mental health projects in Gaza and will aim to include them in future presentations. Speakers: Dr Mohamed Altawil spent his childhood in a Gaza refugee camp, and as an adult, became an expert in trauma therapy through 20+ years of experience in research and practice.  First working in Gaza, he went on to set up the Palestine Trauma Centre in 2007. Dr Altawil was awarded his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Hertfordshire (UK) in September 2008 with support from the Ford Foundation. He is a clinical psychologist registered with HCPC and a visiting Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire. Representing a much-needed field of study in Palestine, his doctoral degree has enabled Dr Altawil to attend a number of International Conferences in the US, Europe and the Middle East. Nick Bilborough is a teacher of English as a foreign language, teacher-trainer and author. He holds an MA in Drama in Education and is particularly interested in the role of drama and storytelling techniques in second language learning. He is now devoting all his energy to the registered charity he set up – https://handsupproject.org providing learning and confidence building opportunities for young people, mostly in Gaza and other parts of occupied Palestine, through online intercultural connections , storytelling and drama activities. David Harrold works in education, specialising in helping students who have literacy difficulties. He is chair of trustees for Palestine Trauma Centre (UK) and has visited Gaza three times. On one of these visits he delivered a course on Drama therapy. Dr Samah Jabr is a psychiatrist practicing in the public and private sectors within Palestine in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. She is currently Head of the Mental Health Unit within the Palestinian Ministry of Health and an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioural sciences at George Washington University, USA. Dr. Jabr’s areas of interest include the rights of prisoners, the problem of stigma, psychoanalysis, childhood trauma, and the integration of mental health within public health. She is a prolific writer in both academic and public media and author of several Arabic professional manuals and guidebooks, one of which, on Suicide Prevention, won the 2021 prize of the Arabpsy.net. Dr. Jabr is a founding member of the Palestine Global Mental Health Network. Dr Mohammed Mukhaimar is a psychologist who worked at the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme before moving to live and work in Cambridge, UK. He has led several projects aimed at developing mental health services in Palestine through training, clinical supervision, and consultancy. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87273844374?pwd=THpQSFBVWVNFYitmT3hDS29xUWR4QT09 2. The subsequent Cafe Palestine 38 will be on Saturday 24 February at 16.00- 18.00 (UK time) This Cafe Palestine will also focus on focus on Mental Health in Gaza. Further details to follow. 3. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour on Monday 29 Jan at 13:00 (UK time) These informal events provide an opportunity to talk, swap ideas and take actions together. The previously arranged time on Friday 26 January now clashes with the important announcement of the International Court of Justice preliminary findings in the Gaza Genocide case. Please write to ukpalmhn@gmail.com if you would like a link to the Action Half-Hour. 4. ‘I just want to run’: Mental health care yet another casualty of Gaza war Dr Samah Jabr is one of the contributors to this report. A burgeoning mental health crisis in the tiny coastal enclave is vastly overshadowed by the scale of death and destruction caused by more than three months of Israeli bombardment. But many experts believe psychological damage may prove one of the war’s most lasting legacies. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-01-23/i-just-want-to-run-mental-health-care-yet-another-casualty-of-gaza-war

1. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour on Friday 12 January at 13:00 (UK time) The Action Half-Hours are intended to provide a space for mutual support and action. The meeting will last for 30 minutes but participants are welcome to stay after the end of the formal meeting to talk further, if desired. Please contact ukpalmhn@gmail.com if you would like a link to the meeting. The actions for this meeting and all previous meetings are open to anyone to act on at any time. They are all available at this link: https://ukpalmhn.com/gaza-crisis/ 2. National March for Palestine – Ceasefire NOW Saturday 13 January at 12:00 at Bank Junction, EC3V 3LA https://palestinecampaign.org/events/national-march-for-palestine-ceasefire-now-january-13/ The UK-Palestine Mental Health Network banner will be at the march. We will be assembling at 12:00 under the Samaritans Blue Plaque on the wall of St Stephen’s Walbrook Church (Northside), 31 St Stephen’s Row (off Walbrook) EC4N 4YA. This is where the Social Workers’ group will also be assembling. The next two items refer to the ICJ and ICC respectively. Here is a refresher about these two bodies, if needed. Understanding how the ICJ and ICC work 3. International Court of Justice resource page The organisation World Beyond War has created a resource page about the South African submission to the International Court of Justice alleging violations by Israel of its obligations under the “Genocide Convention” in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. https://worldbeyondwar.org/gaza-genocide/ Call from Palestine to States Parties of the Genocide Convention: Support South Africa’s ICJ Suit Against Israel over its Gaza Genocide List of organisations calling on signatories of the Genocide Convention to support the case (currently over 1,000 organisations) The USA and UK Mental Health Networks have signed this open letter. The initial submission to the ICJ takes place on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 January. The proceedings run from 9:00 -11:00 (UK time) on both days. Thursday is devoted to SA’s exposition of the case for claiming genocide, Friday to Israel’s defence. It is possible to watch the proceedings here: http://webtv.un.org/en Norman Finkelstein (renowned American political scientist and activist) and Mouin Rabbani (Dutch – Palestinian Middle East analyst) will provide commentary on the case. Connections Episode 85: South Africa Charges Israel with Genocide at the ICJ with Norman Finkelstein (a 4-Part Series) https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/45698 TAKE ACTION There is also a strategic campaign encouraging countries that have been critical of Israel’s conduct in Gaza to take the next step and file a Declaration of Intervention in support of the South African case. The website provides simple form through which it is possible email the United Nations Consulates of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Jordan, Turkey, Ireland, Honduras, Bolivia, Belize, Algeria, and Pakistan. The action appears at the top right of this page: https://worldbeyondwar.org/gaza-genocide/ The full text of the action is available here: https://worldbeyondwar.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Genocide1PageE.pdf 4. Submissions to the International Criminal Court Justice For All has created a tool kit for victims and survivors to submit claims of Israeli aggression to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The International Criminal Court is now accepting online reports of war crimes, including injury, loss of life, and property destruction. Submission of crimes since June 13, 2014 will be considered. https://www.justiceforall.org/icc-submissions/#submiticc 5. Resist the dehumanization of Palestinians and Israelis! Amnesty International Israel has launched an open letter fighting the dehumanization of Gazans, Palestinians, and Muslims, and the dehumanization of Israelis and Jews in general. Why do we fight the dehumanization of Palestinians and Israelis Open Letter and signatories 6. Making a Palestinian symbol At a time of crisis, the work of the Hirbawi brothers in Hebron has rarely been more vital. “After the outbreak of Israel’s current war on Gaza, global demand for keffiyehs increased dramatically as people marched and demonstrated in solidarity with Palestinians. But the Hirbawis cannot increase exports as Israel has cut off the cities of the occupied West Bank from each other and there are no Palestinian airports or ports.” https://www.aljazeera.com/features/longform/2024/1/6/the-only-palestinian-factory-making-keffiyehs-is-going-strong 7. Gaza: Messages & Images Exhibition and Events at P21 Gallery, 21-23 Chalton Street London NW1 In collaboration with Az Theatre and associated artists, P21 Gallery is presenting an exhibition and programme of events, centred around an installation of the Messages From Gaza Now #3 Film. This will be an open space of inspiration, reflection and cultural activism. https://aztheatre.org.uk/ Events: Wed 17 Jan 2024: 7pm Art, Action, Culture, Events! Fri 19 Jan 2024: 7pm Films: Voices From Gaza (1988) and Gaza Breathing Space Film (2011) Tue 23 Jan 2024: 7pm Genocide and Mental Health Thu 25 Jan 2024: 7pm Children, Genocide and the Struggle for Freedom and Justice CORRECTION: In our mailing on 3 January we publicised Ambassadors for HUMANITY – Letters in Solidarity- Disconnected by miles connected through hearts which is a moving collection of letters to Medics and Paramedics in Gaza. We incorrectly stated that the collection was produced by the USA-Palestine Mental Health Network. The USA Network has asked us to clarify that the collection was created by Dr. Sabine Rizk and Nusrat Khan (askrahat101@gmail.com) and the Network is simply distributing it. We apologise to those concerned. Both the UK and the USA Network continue to recommend the collection as a tribute to medics and paramedics in Gaza https://usapalmhn.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Final-Letters-to-Gaza-PDF.pdf

1. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour on Friday 5 January at 13:00 2. National March for Palestine on Saturday 13 January at 12:0 3. Cafe Palestine is back on Sat 27 January and Sat 3 February 4. Ambassadors for Humanity – Letters in Solidarity 5. Letter to Tavistock Institute of Human Relations calling for end to association with Recalculating conference 6. A child of Gaza: The war through a child’s eyes 7. A sniper’s bullets shattered last vestiges of sanctuary in Gaza’s only Catholic church 8. The role of the International Committee of the Red Cross 9. Journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh’s message for 2024 Plus The Darkling Thrush By Thomas Hardy 1. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour on Friday 5 January at 13:00 The Action Half-Hours are intended to provide a space for mutual support and action. Upon reviewing feedback from participants, we plan to keep the Zoom call open at the end of the half hour to provide a space for a broader discussion within the group. This will be a less focused time after the actions have been completed where participants can choose to stay on the call to share feelings and feedback about anything that might have come up for them during the meeting. We hope this will help encourage a feeling of shared solidarity and strengthen our ability to act during this difficult time. Please contact ukpalmhn@gmail.com if you wish to attend the Action Half-Hour 2. National March for Palestine – Ceasefire NOW – Saturday 13 January at 12:00 noon in Central London The assembly point and route have not been announced at the time of writing. We will circulate an assembly point for the UKPALMHN banner and supporters when the route is announced. https://palestinecampaign.org/events/national-march-for-palestine-ceasefire-now-january-13/ 3. Cafe Palestine is back! Keep the dates! We plan to hold two Cafe Palestine events on consecutive weeks: Saturday 27 January at 16:00 – 18:00 and Saturday 3 February at 16:00 – 18:00 They will focus on Mental Health in Gaza with the aim of honouring the work of our colleagues there, their professionalism, creativity and dedication. Samah Jabr describes Mental Health professionals as being ‘a cornerstone in building hope and healing at every level of society.’ With this aim in mind we think it is important to remind ourselves of what our colleagues in Gaza have achieved in promoting mental health. Since they are cut off from electronic communication and forced to focus on their own and their families’ physical survival, their experience and expertise may need to be temporarily represented by colleagues from outside. The two Cafe’s will consist of presentations by different teams who have collaborated with colleagues in Gaza. The Cafe on January 27th will begin with a presentation by Dr Samah Jabr. Further details and Zoom link to follow in the next mailing. 4. Ambassadors for HUMANITY – Letters in Solidarity Disconnected by miles connected through hearts A moving collection of letters to Medics and Paramedics in Gaza, Palestine produced by the USA-Palestine Mental Health Network https://usapalmhn.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Final-Letters-to-Gaza-PDF.pdf 5. UKPALMHN letter to Tavistock Institute of Human Relations calling for end to association with Recalculating conference The 36th OFEK International Group Relations Conference called ‘RECALCULATING: Authority, Identity & Belonging in Times of Tectonic Upheaval’ is being organised in Israel in February 2024. https://ofekgrouprelations.org/en/intgrc2024/. Disturbingly, the conference is being organised in association with the London-based Tavistock Institute of Human Relations.  https://www.tavinstitute.org/ (The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations is a different organisation to the Tavistock and Portman NHS trust). The USA-Palestine Mental Health Network, along with the UK, French and Irish networks are urging people not to attend either in-person or virtually stating: “The “Recalculating” event clearly supports Israeli policy. Its bold invitation, ironically issued now in the midst of Israel’s heinous genocide in Gaza, promises to ponder subtle issues of cultural and national identity in a neutral, self-searching, and transparent manner. Alas, however, the list of conference planners excludes Palestinian voices—those human beings currently being uprooted through genocide and violent upheaval. What’s more, the invitation states with proud defiance that the ‘conference will be conducted according to the guidelines of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command to ensure the continued safety of residents’. With this framework, how can the perspectives of Palestinians or their international supporters conceivably be heard?” The UK-Palestine Mental Health Network has written to the CEO of the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations calling on the Institute to end association with the conference. There has been no reply to this letter. A copy of the UKPALMHN letter and a link to the open letter urging people not to attend can be found on this page: https://ukpalmhn.com/resources/dont-go-to-the-recalculating-conference/ Further information about this action will be added to this page as it becomes available. 6. A child of Gaza: The war through a child’s eyes Under Israeli bombardment, nine-year-old Elaf and her family struggle to find safety in the Gaza Strip. A recommended 25-minute film released on Christmas Day https://www.aljazeera.com/program/witness/2023/12/25/a-child-of-gaza-the-war-through-a-childs-eyes 7. A sniper’s bullets shattered last vestiges of sanctuary in Gaza’s only Catholic church On 20 December two elderly women were shot dead by a sniper whilst going to the outside toilet in Gaza’s only Catholic church. Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-church-palestinians-christians-b2466049.html Al Jazeera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otw-1JQsP2g&authuser=0 8. The role of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mazin Qumsiyeh, the Director of the Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University has questioned the impartiality of the ICRC. The ICRC is taking a strong stance in support of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. On the other hand, thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank have been seized without due process and are held without charge (under so-called “Administrative Detention”) and often subject to torture and abuse. The ICRC is not treating these Palestinian prisoners in the same way that it deals with the Israeli hostages. Amnesty International https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/11/israel-opt-horrifying-cases-of-torture-and-degrading-treatment-of-palestinian-detainees-amid-spike-in-arbitrary-arrests Human Rights Watch https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/11/29/why-does-israel-have-so-many-palestinians-detention-and-available-swap 972 (an independent, online, non-profit magazine run by a group of Palestinian and Israeli journalists) https://www.972mag.com/palestinians-abused-israeli-prisons-torture/ Mazin urges people to write to the ICRC about this:  https://www.icrc.org/en/contact 9. Journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh’s message for 2024 https://twitter.com/SamiXSavage/status/1741628394435940398 As we enter 2024, a poem that perhaps befits the times … The Darkling Thrush By Thomas Hardy I leant upon a coppice gate    When Frost was spectre-grey, And Winter’s dregs made desolate    The weakening eye of day. The tangled bine-stems scored the sky    Like strings of broken lyres, And all mankind that haunted nigh    Had sought their household fires. The land’s sharp features seemed to be    The Century’s corpse outleant, His crypt the cloudy canopy,    The wind his death-lament. The ancient pulse of germ and birth    Was shrunken hard and dry, And every spirit upon earth    Seemed fervourless as I. At once a voice arose among    The bleak twigs overhead In a full-hearted evensong    Of joy illimited; An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small,    In blast-beruffled plume, Had chosen thus to fling his soul    Upon the growing gloom. So little cause for carolings    Of such ecstatic sound Was written on terrestrial things    Afar or nigh around, That I could think there trembled through    His happy good-night air Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew    And I was unaware.  https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44325/the-darkling-thrush

1. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour on Friday 5 January at 13:00 2. National March for Palestine – Saturday 13 January 3. Don’t Go to the Recalculating Conference! 4. As genocide rages, doctors must choose: Care or collaboration 5. Doctors Against Genocide 6. International committee “must investigate Israel’s holding of dead bodies in Gaza”​ 7. Meta censors pro-Palestinian views on a global scale, report claims 8. Visualisation of the progressive destruction of medical infrastructure in Gaza 9. No Human Being Can Exist 10. I am not Palestinian. But if you are not grieving, something is wrong 11. Act now against companies profiting from the genocide of the Palestinian people plus I will not look away by Caitlin Johnstone (extract) and Organisations providing mental health services that are seeking financial support in 2024 1. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour on Friday 5 January at 13:00 The Action Half-Hours are intended to provide a space for mutual support and action. Please contact ukpalmhn@gmail.com if you would like a link to the meeting. 2. National March for Palestine – Ceasefire NOW – Saturday 13 January at 12:00 noon in Central London The assembly point and route have not been announced at the time of writing. https://palestinecampaign.org/events/national-march-for-palestine-ceasefire-now-january-13/ 3. Don’t Go to the Recalculating Conference! The 36th OFEK International Group Relations Conference called RECALCULATING: Authority, Identity & Belonging in Times of Tectonic Upheaval is being organised in Israel in February 2024. https://ofekgrouprelations.org/en/intgrc2024/. Disturbingly, the conference is being organised in association with the London-based Tavistock Institute https://www.tavinstitute.org/ The conference brochure gushes that: “The questions of the day, while in many ways collective, are also deeply personal. We experience them in our own bodies, in the eyes of our children, in spontaneous encounters with strangers in town squares and in sudden bursts of emotion that overcome us as we drive alone in the car.” The US-Palestine Mental Health Network, along with the UK, French and Irish networks are urging people not to attend either in-person or virtually stating: “The “Recalculating” event clearly supports Israeli policy. Its bold invitation, ironically issued now in the midst of Israel’s heinous genocide in Gaza, promises to ponder subtle issues of cultural and national identity in a neutral, self-searching, and transparent manner. Alas, however, the list of conference planners excludes Palestinian voices—those human beings currently being uprooted through genocide and violent upheaval. What’s more, the invitation states with proud defiance that the ‘conference will be conducted according to the guidelines of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command to ensure the continued safety of residents’. With this framework, how can the perspectives of Palestinians or their international supporters conceivably be heard?” A link to the open letter can be found on this page: https://ukpalmhn.com/resources/dont-go-to-the-recalculating-conference/ Further information about this action will be added to this page as it becomes available.   4. As genocide rages, doctors must choose: Care or collaboration Healthcare workers in Gaza are refusing to abandon their patients and communities. American doctors should be doing all we can to protect them. Why aren’t we? https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/11/25/as-genocide-rages-doctors-must-choose-care-or-collaborationism 5. Doctors Against Genocide We are a global coalition of healthcare workers dedicated to succeeding where global governments have failed in confronting and preventing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Our mission includes identifying, opposing, preventing, and eradicating genocide by uniting Healthcare Professionals in action. https://doctorsagainstgenocide.org/ 6. International committee “must investigate Israel’s holding of dead bodies in Gaza​” Euro-Med report states that the Israeli army has been holding the bodies of dozens of Palestinians killed during its genocide in the Gaza Strip beginning on 7 October, and Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has called for the creation of an independent international investigation committee into organ theft suspicions. https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/5982/Int%E2%80%99l-committee-must-investigate-Israel%E2%80%99s-holding-of-dead-bodies-in-Gaza%E2%80%8B 7. Meta censors pro-Palestinian views on a global scale, report claims Meta has engaged in a “systemic and global” censorship of pro-Palestinian content since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war on 7 October, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW). https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/dec/21/meta-facebook-instagram-pro-palestine-censorship-human-rights-watch-report You can fight back against this. In the course of producing these newsletters we have seen ample, circumstantial evidence that Palestinian voices on social media – particularly on Meta (Facebook and Instagram) – are being demoted. For example, powerful, direct-to-camera testimonies from Dr Abu Jamei of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme that, mysteriously, gained only a handful of views. When you see an interesting link, do not assume that your friends and contacts will most likely see it too. Forward interesting links directly to your friends and contacts. You can find a record of links to campaigns and actions that UKPALMHN has been promoting on this page: https://ukpalmhn.com/gaza-crisis/ 8. Visualisation of the progressive destruction of medical infrastructure in Gaza. Forensic Architecture (https://forensic-architecture.org/) have produced an informative visualisation by cross-referencing hundreds of reports from Al-Jazeera, Alaraby and Shehab News that describe attacks on, or near to, hospitals and medical infrastructure in the north of the Gaza strip. https://gaza-hospitals.forensic-architecture.org/ 9. No Human being can exist How can a person make up for seven decades of misrepresentation and willful distortion in the time allotted to a sound bite? https://www.nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/no-human-being-can-exist/ 10. I am not Palestinian. But if you are not grieving, something is wrong The global powers divide lives into those who can be mourned and those who cannot; those whose mourning justifies the killing machine and those whose mourning undermines it. https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/israel-palestine-gaza-war-reject-censorship-grief-must 11. Act now against companies profiting from the genocide of the Palestinian people One of the founding Aims 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)”. This link from the Palestinian-led BDS campaign provides a detailed guide to targeted consumer boycotts, divestment and pressure campaigns https://bdsmovement.net/Act-Now-Against-These-Companies-Profiting-From-Genocide I will not look away by Caitlin Johnstone (extract) No matter how horrific it gets, I will not look away. No matter how many children I see killed and injured in the most gruesome ways imaginable, I will not look away. No matter how much human suffering I see by keeping my gaze on Gaza, I will not look away. No matter how many nightmares I have, I will not look away. No matter how many tears I shed, I will not look away. No matter how many reasons the propagandists and manipulators come up with for me to turn my gaze elsewhere, I will not look away. No matter how many insults and accusations I am tarred with for refusing to look away, I will not look away. No matter how much easier it would be to look away, I will not look away. I will not avert my gaze. I will not become distracted. I will not lose myself to the sedated stupor of escapism. I will not do my best to pretend that everything is normal and that life is basically fine. https://consortiumnews.com/2023/12/11/caitlin-johnstone-i-will-not-look-away/ ORGANISATIONS PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT ARE SEEKING FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN 2024 Palestine Trauma Centre (UK) https://www.palestinetraumacentre.uk/ Medical Aid for Palestinians https://www.map.org.uk/ Palestine Red Crescent Society https://www.palestinercs.org/en Palestinian Counseling Center https://pcc-jer.org/en Gaza Community Mental Health Programme https://www.gazamentalhealth.org/support/ Hope and Play https://hopeandplay.org/

1. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour 2. Arrest of Munther Amira, Chairman of the Board of the Aida Youth Center 3. Updates from The Freedom Theatre in Jenin 4. At Christmas – an open letter from 12 Palestinian Christian groups 5. How Israel uses an AI genocide program to obliterate Gaza 6. What does it mean to erase a people – a nation, culture, identity? 7. Israel Killed Thousands of Children in Gaza. How Can So Many Israelis Remain Indifferent? 8. Press conference with Dr Ben Thompson from North America Medical Doctors 9. What would Freud have made of it? Notes on a ‘normal pathological organisation’ within psychoanalysis 10. Brian Cox reading If I Must Die 11. Infographic of the work of Dr Samah Jabr  1. UKPALMHN Action Half-Hour Friday 22 December at 13:00 (UK time) A reflective space to support one another, discuss and take actions together Please mail ukpalmhn@gmail.com for the Zoom link. 2. Arrest of Munther Amira, Chairman of the Board of the Aida Youth Center In the early hours of 18 December Munther Amira was violently arrested in his home in Aida camp near Bethlehem in the West Bank. Further details of the violent arrest are here https://mondoweiss.net/2023/12/palestinian-activist-munther-amira-tied-up-beaten-and-arrested-by-israeli-forces-in-aida-refugee-camp/ This follows the arrest of Anas Abu Srour, the Executive Director of the Youth Center on 29 November. Full details are available on the Aida Youth Center Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/aidacenter.org The Aida Youth Center has organised two petitions calling for their release: #FreeAnasAbuSrour: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc4jrwzVo08FdikvEEtdn1Rhh0qAQnFQoESj2K6T01lP_syJw/viewform #FreeMuntherAmira: https://www.change.org/p/free-munther-amira?recruiter=1324159610&recruited_by_id=2b2c8eb0-9d7c-11ee-98e6-e58dbbf17381 3. Updates from The Freedom Theatre in Jenin On 13 December, Israeli soldiers attacked The Freedom Theatre in Jenin, shooting at the building, destroying offices and assaulting its staff. Artistic Director Ahmed Tobasi, Producer Mustafa Sheta, and theatre graduate Jamal Abu Joas were taken from their homes and detained. Jamal was severely beaten. Ahmed Tobasi has since been released, also beaten. His colleagues, along with approximately 100 other Palestinians taken hostage from Jenin, remain detained. This follows the murder of three members of The Freedom Theatre in the last few weeks. Ongoing updates are available on the Freedom Theatre Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thefreedomtheatre There is an open letter calling for the release of the culture workers who have been arrested: https://forms.gle/7S3mgPe79wr8X5bZ8 The Freedom Theatre are particularly interested to hear from those working within the theatre industry. 4. At Christmas – an open letter from 12 Palestinian Christian groups to western church leaders and theologians Finally, and we say it with a broken heart, we hold western church leaders and theologians who rally behind Israel’s wars accountable for their theological and political complicity in the Israeli crimes against the Palestinians, which have been committed over the last 75 years. We call upon them to reexamine their positions and to change their direction, remembering that God “will judge the world in justice” (Acts 17:31). https://www.defenddemocracy.press/an-open-letter-from-palestinian-christians-to-western-church-leaders-and-theologians/ 5. How Israel uses an AI genocide program to obliterate Gaza In a recent newsletter we linked to a detailed Israeli report called ‘A mass assassination factory’: Inside Israel’s calculated bombing of Gaza.The report cites the concerns of Israeli whistleblowers that Israel’s AI system is generating targets so fast, based on inputs so broad, that everyone in Gaza is in the crosshairs. The report has gained worldwide attention. https://www.972mag.com/mass-assassination-factory-israel-calculated-bombing-gaza/ Below is a link to a blog post that provides a shorter summary of the report: https://jonathancook.substack.com/p/how-israel-uses-an-ai-genocide-program 6. What does it mean to erase a people – a nation, culture, identity? In Gaza, we are beginning to find out Artists killed, journalists silenced, libraries and mosques destroyed. What will be left to bind the survivors together? https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/18/gaza-israel-destroying-culture-and-identity 7. Israel Killed Thousands of Children in Gaza. How Can So Many Israelis Remain Indifferent? By Amira Hass an Israeli journalist and author, mostly known for her columns in the daily newspaper Haaretz covering Palestinian affairs in Gaza and the West Bank, where she has lived for almost thirty years. For decades we’ve been brought up believing that only military force can ensure the state’s survival, while denying rights to the Palestinians. That’s just one of many sad answers to the question https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2023-12-18/ty-article-opinion/.premium/israel-killed-thousands-of-children-in-gaza-how-can-so-many-israelis-remain-indifferent 8. Press conference with Dr Ben Thompson from North America Medical Doctors We are reaching the point of no return where blatant disregard for International Humanitarian Law scars our collective consciousness https://www.tiktok.com/@bass_la/video/7310440822414085419 9. What would Freud have made of it? Notes on a ‘normal pathological organisation’ within psychoanalysis by UK-Palestine Mental Health Network members Martin Kemp and Eliana Pinto Psychoanalytic  discourse  in  relation  to  the  situation  in  historic Palestine is subject to both ideologically-based and anxiety-driven inhibitions and restrictions that conflict with the discipline’s claim to be able to “stay with” difficult issues, to  “think  the  unthinkable”.  This  situation  is  understood  as  a  social  pathology,  and  its  impacts  are  explored  through  a  literature review. Final chance to read this on free access, at this link:  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aps.1825 10. Palestine Festival of Literature recording of Brian Cox reading If I Must Die by beloved Palestinian poet, teacher and martyr Refaat Alareer. Refaat was killed on December 7th by an Israeli airstrike. His body is unburied under the rubble https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0xRMCuIKcj/ 11. Infographic of the work of Dr Samah Jabr Mental health under occupation: resistance, trauma and colonisation in Palestine https://www.linkedin.com/posts/samah-jabr-25509883_thanks-to-keri-caring-for-activists-for-activity-7141090607480946690-Nt7y/