Bearing Witness in the West Bank: mental health and life under occupation

In this talk, Phoebe and Deborah will share reflections from their recent time in the West Bank. After a brief context setting on the specific situation in the West Bank, Deborah will explore the impact of occupation on mental health, particularly for children and young people facing disrupted education, travel restrictions and prolonged uncertainty, and will speak about the needs identified by local professionals working to provide psychological support. She will also give a glimpse into Christianity in Palestine. Phoebe will reflect on everyday life under occupation, offering stories that illuminate the human realities behind the headlines and some of the work going on amongst communities. Together, they will bear witness to the pressures people live under and the realities people navigate each day, seeking to amplify the voices and work of local communities, while recognising that this can only ever be a small window into everyday life in Palestine.

There will be time for discussion and reflection on what we can do to support.

Donations made for tickets, or on the night will be split between the Aida Refugee Camp women's centre, the Emergency Relief Fund for the Abu Naem family following violent displacement in the West Bank, and Medical Aid for Palestinians.

Speakers:

Phoebe is a humanitarian policy and advocacy consultant who has worked with the International Federation of the Red Cross, the British Red Cross and Karama Mutual Aid Network. She has recently returned from three months volunteering in the West Bank, where she supported human rights documentation, provided protective presence, and worked alongside local communities on advocacy initiatives and humanitarian operations support. Her work focuses on humanitarian diplomacy, the protection of civilians, and amplifying the voices of those directly affected by conflict and occupation.

Deborah has a background in practical mental health work and the co-creation of socially conscious healing spaces with individuals and communities. She is currently working with the Royal College of Nursing in the UK and overseas including the Augusta Victoria Hospital (Jerusalem) and Bethlehem University, providing academic support, counselling and restorative supervision. In December 2025, she travelled to the West Bank on a mental health scoping mission with Medical Aid for Palestinians.

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