Voices of Solidarity: The UK's biggest cultural fundraiser event hoping to raise £1 million for Gaza's health workers and infrastructure under Israeli siege

In two weeks, London will host the UK's largest cultural fundraiser for Palestine, aiming to raise urgent funds for Palestinian healthcare workers and Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, both of which are bearing the brunt of Israel’s ongoing genocide.

Titled Voices of Solidarity, the event will be presented by Health Workers 4 Palestine (HW4P) — a grassroots movement co-founded by a group of doctors in the UK in October 2023, in response to the censorship they faced when speaking out for Palestinian health workers and their right to healthcare in Palestine.

In collaboration with creative artists and allies, the fundraiser on Saturday, 19 July at Troxy — a Grade II-listed Art Deco venue — follows last year’s sold-out Voices for Gaza event, which raised £200,000 for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), with this year’s goal set at £1 million to support besieged health workers through music, comedy, theatre, and art from artists advocating for humanitarian justice.

Confirmed performers include MCs Jen Brister and Ahmed Eldin; comedians Bassem Youssef, Alexei Sayle, Tadhg Hickey, Imran Yusuf, Nish Kumar, Fatiha El-Ghori, and Rosie Jones; spoken word artists Juliet Stevenson, Malak Mattar, Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah, Moez Masoud, Rahma Zein, and Dr Myriam Francois; as well as musicians Paloma Faith, Zeyne, Alexi Murdoch, Ghalia Benali, Massar Egbari, and El Far3i.

Also featured in the lineup is actor, activist, and organiser Khalid Abdalla, known for his role in The Crown, who will perform his debut song, A Simple Song, dedicated to the children of Palestine.

In addition to the performances, the event will feature a silent auction showcasing original artwork and signed memorabilia, while also welcoming high-profile VIP guests from the humanitarian, cultural, and political spheres. 

An event that inspires and galvanises

Speaking exclusively to The New Arab, Amira Nimerawi, CEO of HW4P, explained why the event is being organised during one of Gaza’s darkest hours: "For the first few months of the genocide, I couldn’t bring myself to open photographs or videos of cultural celebrations, weddings, exhibitions, or time spent in Palestine with family. The pain of being reminded of our joy was unbearable when our hearts were being shattered every day. It felt as if Palestine might be lost forever.

"But I soon realised that this is exactly what the Israeli occupation seeks — to sever Palestinians from their identity and hope. This effort to erase us has persisted since the Nakba in 1948, taking many forms: banning weddings, destroying our national dress, the thoub, and restricting what we can grow on our land.

"Each act is an attempt to dismantle Palestinian identity. By reconnecting with my happiest memories of Palestine, I came to understand why my ancestors insisted on resisting through culture, art, and joy. These acts of resilience have been essential to our survival through 77 years of brutal occupation," Amira explained.

"With this event, our hope is to amplify the voices of health workers from Gaza — to inspire and galvanise us all for the work ahead in rebuilding the healthcare system. We are centring Palestinian voices, calling for a Palestinian-led rebuilding effort."

Juliet, a member of the organising team, also noted: “Voices of Solidarity is the expression of an impassioned commitment to the health workers in Gaza, whose selfless professionalism in the face of unspeakable brutality and violence has shown the world what bravery and dedication truly mean as a lived reality.

"Many have been killed or injured, some kidnapped and tortured, but all have stared this genocide in the face. The night will honour their humanity and dedication, and will raise urgently needed funds to support them and to begin Palestinian-led rebuilding of Gaza’s healthcare.”

Dr Omar Abdel-Mannan, founder and president of HW4P and a paediatric neurologist, told The New Arab: “Like so many others, I found myself doom-scrolling as the devastation in Gaza unfolded, feeling helpless — until I realised that sustaining a movement also requires spaces for joy, connection, and remembrance.

"Voices of Solidarity is just that: a night to honour Gaza’s frontline health workers and re-energise ourselves through culture and community. From our first candlelit vigil on 10 November 2023, HW4P has grown into a global network of thousands resisting censorship, mobilising aid, and demanding justice," he added. 

"This event is the culmination of that journey — a moment to remember, to resist, and to recommit.”

A call to end violence

According to MAP, as of May 2025, Israel’s attacks on Gaza’s health system have killed 1,400 health workers, providing clear evidence of a deliberate war on healthcare in Gaza, which MAP has condemned, stressing that these atrocities must not be allowed to continue.

HW4P shares this concern and is equally committed to ending the violence, which is why all proceeds from the Voices of Solidarity event will go directly to the HW4P Solidarity Fund.

As Amira mentioned, this fund supports rebuilding Gaza’s healthcare system through Palestinian-led initiatives like the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, which serves over 65,000 patients weekly with 69 active health teams, and the Ghassan Abu Sitta Children’s Fund, which trains and retains Gaza’s next generation of doctors in critical specialities.

To achieve its objectives, the HW4P Solidarity Fund has developed a three-step plan: providing urgent financial aid to families of health workers who have been killed or detained — with close to £100,000 already raised; supporting the retention and training of specialist staff to avoid a loss of skilled professionals; and leading the long-term, Palestinian-led reconstruction of Gaza’s healthcare system, including trauma care, neonatal, and mental health services.

Speaking on the urgency of the atrocities being committed against the Palestinian people, Dr Ghassan stated, “They are not just killing people; they are attempting to destroy the very possibility of medicine itself.”

He added that the HW4P fund is a vital lifeline for the future of healthcare in the region.

Tickets for the upcoming event can be purchased directly on the Troxy website here

[Cover photo illustration by Yasmeen Ayyashi] 

Zainab Mehdi is The New Arab's Associate Editor and researcher specialising in governance, development, and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa region

Follow her on Instagram: @zaiamehdi_/@zainabmehdiwrites_