” Health is a human right, yet for many Palestinian women, it remains a daily struggle for survival. “

– WHO, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office

October is globally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month , a time to shed light on one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide. According to the World Health Organization , breast cancer accounts for 2.3 million new cases each year and remains the leading cause of cancer deaths among women ( WHO, 2024 ). Yet in Palestine, where life itself is often lived under restriction, health has become a struggle of endurance — and for women facing cancer, it is a struggle under siege.

In the occupied Palestinian territories , breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, accounting for over 32% of all female cancer diagnoses ( Palestinian Ministry of Health, 2022 ). Many of these women are diagnosed in late stages due to the fragmented health system , lack of early screening , movement restrictions , and the ongoing trauma of conflict and occupation ( UNFPA, 2023 ).

Beyond the medical crisis lies a deeper psychological one: fear, shame, and isolation that often prevent women from seeking help until it is too late.

At Holy Land Trust , we believe that health is not only the absence of illness but the presence of hope, peace, and empowerment . Our work — from trauma-informed care to community empowerment — is rooted in the conviction that healing begins when people feel safe, seen, and supported . Through our women’s programs, retreats, and storytelling initiatives, we aim to restore that sense of wholeness and dignity.

The theme “Health Under Siege” perfectly mirrors the challenges we face in Palestine today — but it also reflects our collective strength . Every act of awareness, every story told, and every breath taken in resilience is an act of defiance and transformation .

Our recent Inner Stillness Retreat with Issa Al-Hayek offered participants tools to release fear, manage stress, and reconnect with their inner peace , showing how trauma can be transformed through conscious breathing and self-awareness. These same tools are vital for women living with or recovering from cancer — empowering them to regain control over their bodies and emotions, and to find balance amid uncertainty.

Likewise, our Generation to Generation project amplifies women’s voices through storytelling and photography, helping them reclaim their narratives. For women facing breast cancer, storytelling becomes advocacy , turning pain into power and inspiring others to seek help and solidarity.

In a land where trauma is inherited, Holy Land Trust works to break the cycle — creating spaces where women can heal, connect, and rise together. Our approach combines psychosocial support, art-based expression, and intergenerational empowerment , helping communities transform pain into purpose.

As we mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we stand with every Palestinian woman who continues her fight for health and dignity. In every survivor’s story, in every moment of courage, and in every step toward awareness, we see the essence of our mission:

Transforming trauma into hope and struggling into empowerment.

On October 16, 2025, Holy Land Trust, in collaboration with Bethlehem University and with generous support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, celebrated the closing ceremony of the fourth cycle of the Generation to Generation project.

Over ten months, sixteen students engaged in intensive training on leadership, feminism, life writing, and photography, resulting in a powerful documentation of 30 women’s stories and an exhibition of 90 portraits. These narratives reflect the resilience and dignity of Palestinian women and serve as a reminder that empowerment begins with voice.

This project continues to bridge generations, transforming personal experiences into collective advocacy and strengthening the role of women as storytellers, leaders, and changemakers.

Lecture “Settler Colonialism in Palestine – Ethnic Cleansing, Land Confiscation and International Law”, with Dr. Hassan Brijieh

As part of its commitment to community empowerment and awareness, Holy Land Trust organized a “Monthly Gathering | لمة الشهر” event featuring a lecture by Dr. Hassan Breijieh, activist in the Popular Resistance, Director of the International Law Department at the Colonization & Wall Resistance Commission, and Chairman of the Board of the International Center for Strategic Studies and Settlements (ICSSS).

Dr. Breijieh discussed the impact of the Israeli colonization of Palestinian land, with a focus on the ongoing processes of ethnic cleansing and land confiscation, such as the recent E1 settlement plan, as well as the blockade on Gaza, and the annexation of the West Bank.

This session aligns with Holy Land Trust’s mission to empower a new Palestinian generation that is informed, critically aware, and equipped to understand and address current challenges. It aims to develop future leaders capable of achieving breakthrough outcomes and shaping a better future guided by a clear, strategic, and forward-looking vision.

Your support enables Holy Land Trust to continue its mission of empowering individuals and communities in Palestine through programs that transform trauma into hope. From women’s empowerment initiatives and youth leadership training to community advocacy and trauma healing spaces, your contribution directly sustains the journey toward peace, justice, and inner transformation. Together, we can help our people rise above fear and rebuild lives rooted in resilience and love.

Every contribution empowers a woman, strengthens a family, and uplifts a community.

Lara Nassar Mitri,

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

We chose “Growth” for October to symbolize resilience — despite ongoing challenges, we continue expanding our impact, nurturing hope, empowering communities, and transforming trauma into hope, strength and renewal.

Holy Land Trust

© 2025 Holy Land Trust