In the heart of the British Parliament, a powerful message of resilience and justice echoed through the historic halls of the House of Commons. On July 7, 2025, The Orient House Think Tank and the Association of the Palestinian Community in the United Kingdom (APCUK) brought together British lawmakers, Palestinian voices, and human rights advocates for a groundbreaking parliamentary session titled “Raising the Voices of Palestinian and British Palestinian Women.” At a time when Palestinian women in Gaza face genocide and displacement, and British Palestinian women endure silencing and discrimination in the diaspora, this event served as a vital platform to confront these injustices head-on. Through personal testimonies, political engagement, and urgent calls for action, the session broke the silence surrounding Palestinian women’s suffering and struggle for freedom—turning political discussion into a demand for accountability and change.
The session was hosted by LDFP (Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine) member Sam Ammar and Liberal Democrat MP Pippa Heylings, who facilitated the parliamentary briefing to amplify the voices of Palestinian women. During the event, panellists shared powerful testimonies of life under occupation in Gaza and the West Bank, describing the daily realities of fear, grief, and injustice. They also spoke about the discrimination and challenges faced by Palestinian women living in the UK today, adding an important diasporic dimension to the conversation.
1. Featured speakers included:
- Cllr Sam Ammar, Liberal Democrat politician and former Chairman of Bromsgrove District Council.
- Mrs. Mai Aabid, Head of the Women’s Committee of the Palestinian Community in the UK.
- Maysam Abumorr, Middle East Researcher and Intelligence Analyst at Meta.
- Reema Alrakhawi, British Palestinian writer, journalist, and life coach.
- Saga Hamdan, Palestinian writer, dentist, and public and social health researcher.
The event was widely attended by Members of the British Parliament (MPs) from across the political spectrum, reflecting the growing concern for Palestinian human rights in British political circles. Members of the Liberal Democrats played a leading role, consistent with the party’s support for Palestinian rights, advocacy for a two-state solution, and calls for recognizing an independent Palestinian state.
2. The event was organized and coordinated by:
- Dr. Nehad Khanfar, Chairman of the Association of the Palestinian Community in the UK (APCUK).
- Sameh Habeeb, Director of Political Affairs at APCUK and Founder of the Orient House Think Tank.
This session fits within the broader vision of the Palestinian Community Association in the UK, which aims to empower the Palestinian community, strengthen ties with the Palestinian diaspora and homeland, preserve Palestinian identity, and promote Palestinian cultural heritage.
The session was marked by diverse and impactful participation, drawing MPs from across party lines and highlighting the broad, cross-party interest in advancing Palestinian human rights. The Liberal Democrats’ active involvement reflected their clear and principled stance in support of the Palestinian cause and a peace process based on the 1967 borders.
A central moment of the session was the testimonies of Palestinian women, who shared deeply personal accounts of their suffering and resilience under Israeli occupation. These firsthand stories added an essential human dimension to the political discussion, helping parliamentarians grasp the lived realities of Palestinian women—especially amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
3. The discussion addressed the complex, multi-faceted hardships faced by Palestinian women, including:
- Economic and social deprivation,
- Severe restrictions on movement,
- Systematic violence and human rights violations.
It also highlighted the vital role of Palestinian women in popular resistance and the preservation of national identity, emphasizing their crucial contributions in education, healthcare, social work, and safeguarding Palestinian cultural heritage.
The event further explored the psychological toll of decades of occupation, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank, where women face immense mental and emotional strain caused by the destruction of infrastructure, the loss of family members, and the collapse of basic services.
4. The strong presence of Liberal Democrat MPs reaffirmed the party’s commitment to Palestinian rights, including:
- Supporting a two-state solution based on 1967 borders,
- Official recognition of the State of Palestine,
- Lifting the blockade on Gaza,
- Opposing Israeli settlement expansion
5. The session concluded with several key recommendations and demands:
- Strengthening legal protections for Palestinian women under international law,
- Activating international protection mechanisms under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law,
- Ensuring accountability by prosecuting those responsible for violations against Palestinian women,
- Expanding humanitarian aid specifically targeting women and children in the occupied Palestinian territories,
- Maintaining diplomatic pressure on Israel to end violations against Palestinian women,
- Supporting Palestinian women’s organizations,
- Launching wider awareness campaigns and educational programs within British society to highlight the plight of Palestinian women under occupation.
6. This event holds special significance amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, and the growing political and public attention to the Palestinian cause in the UK. It represents a major step forward in:
- Raising awareness among British parliamentarians of the unique struggles faced by Palestinian women,
- Building political alliances with British parties, particularly the Liberal Democrats, in support of Palestinian human rights,
- Shaping UK policy through informed debate, accurate information, and firsthand testimonies from those directly affected.