Palestinian Women’s Conference in London: Testimonies from Gaza, Art and Heritage in Support of Women in the Strip

The Women’s Committee of the Association of the Palestinian Community in the UK (APCUK) dedicated proceeds from purchases, donations and accompanying activities at its third Palestinian Women’s Conference to supporting Palestinian women in the Gaza Strip. Held in London on Sunday, 25 October 2026, the conference brought together testimonies from women who had left Gaza, alongside art, cultural heritage and community initiatives.

The event took place at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Ealing, west London, and attracted Palestinian, Arab and wider community members. The programme combined first-hand accounts from women who had experienced genocide and displacement, official speeches, an art exhibition, musical performances and a workshop on digital media.

The conference formed part of a series of initiatives organised by the association’s Women’s Committee, focusing on empowering Palestinian women in Britain, strengthening their role in community life, and preserving Palestinian identity and culture. Previous Palestinian women’s conferences organised by the association had also attracted broad participation, highlighting the importance of building a network that brings Palestinian women in Britain together and connects their concerns with those of women in Palestine, particularly in Gaza.

Testimonies from Gaza

The conference featured a session entitled “Voices from Gaza”, dedicated to women who had arrived in Britain from the Strip in the aftermath of the genocide that followed the events of 7 October 2023.

Participants recounted their journeys out of Gaza and the long months of displacement and fear that preceded them. They spoke about the challenges they faced both before reaching Britain and after their arrival, as well as the needs of Palestinian women and families who had come from the Strip.

The speakers also delivered messages to Palestinians and Arabs in Britain, stressing the importance of sustained support and warning against allowing Gaza’s suffering to become just another passing news story. Their accounts highlighted the profound social, psychological and economic consequences left by years of genocide.

Women’s Role and Community Engagement

Mai Abed, chair of the Palestinian Community Association’s Women’s Committee, addressed the conference, highlighting the role of Palestinian women and the importance of creating spaces where Palestinian women in Britain can come together, participate and strengthen their presence in society.

Dr Nihad Khanfar, president of the Association of the Palestinian Community in the UK, also spoke at the event, emphasising the importance of community initiatives that bring Palestinians in Britain together and maintain their connection to Palestine, their national identity and their cultural heritage.

On previous occasions, Khanfar has highlighted the association’s efforts to unite different parts of the Palestinian community, build bridges between people, and strengthen a sense of identity and belonging among Palestinians living in the diaspora.

Art Exhibition Celebrates Palestine

An art exhibition was held alongside the conference, curated by Iman Fazani. It featured Arab and Palestinian artworks reflecting Palestine through its heritage, symbols and national cause.

The exhibition provided a space for artistic expression beyond direct political discourse, with Palestine represented through colour, paintings and symbolism. The artistic programme also supported the event’s wider aim of standing in solidarity with Palestinian women in Gaza.

Women’s Choir Performs Palestinian Songs

A Palestinian women’s choir, led by Lina Saleh, a specialist in Palestinian musical heritage, performed a selection of Palestinian songs. The audience responded warmly to the performance, accompanied by Iraqi musician Saif Al-Naffakh.

The songs formed part of a wider effort to preserve Palestinian memory and heritage in the diaspora, while giving women a platform to express themselves through their voices, art and cultural message.

The performance came amid growing interest in establishing and developing Palestinian women’s choir projects in Britain, with the aim of reviving traditional folk songs and preserving them through contemporary musical interpretations.

Digital Media Workshop

The programme also explored ways of communicating the Palestinian narrative. Rita, a social media specialist, led a workshop examining how digital platforms can be used more effectively to strengthen community engagement and bring Palestinian issues and messages to wider audiences.

The workshop brought together generations committed to preserving Palestinian heritage and those using modern digital media tools, seeking to connect identity and community work with new forms of communication and public engagement.

The event concluded with a Palestinian dabke performance, transforming the venue from a space for testimonies, discussion and workshops into a celebration of Palestinian identity and cultural heritage.

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