Palestine Festival in Britain raises over $50,000 for Gaza amid worsening crisis

Byron Hall in Harrow, northwest London, was transformed over the weekend into a space filled with Palestinian flags, traditional music, and a diverse audience marking the 20th Palestine Festival, organised annually by the Palestinian Forum in Britain. This year’s edition drew a huge crowd and carried a heightened sense of purpose, where singing, dancing, and donating became acts of solidarity with Gaza.

Forum Chairman Zaher Birawi said the festival "embodies the steadfastness of the Palestinian people" and sends a message that their narrative will not be erased. He described Israel’s actions in Gaza as a "systematic genocide" and called for international accountability. Deputy Chairman Adnan Hamidan highlighted continued support for Gaza and opposition to policies aimed at erasing Palestinian identity, stressing that "Rights do not expire." 

Speakers shared testimonies, legal perspectives, and personal experiences, including contributions from Dr Mohammed Taher, Denis Joffe, Ahmed Alnaouq, Lina Khattab, and Keren Andrew. The festival also honoured individuals and institutions that supported the Palestinian cause over the past two years, among them surgeon Mohammed Taher, doctor James Smith, Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos, Councillor Andrea Gibson, digital activist Chris Kunzler, and Freedom Flotilla participants Aaron White and Keren Andrew.

The programme featured cultural performances by the London Arabic Orchestra, led by Basel Saleh, traditional dabke groups, and artist Lowkey, as well as children’s activities, Palestinian food stands, and a knafeh station.

An auctioned painting by artist Salim Assi, depicting the map of Gaza and the figure "Handala", sold for more than $8,000.

Fundraising for Gaza

The announcement that the festival had raised over $50,000 for orphan support and winter-relief programmes in Gaza drew the strongest reaction from attendees. According to the UK government’s latest Humanitarian Policy Note, 97–100% of Gaza’s population now requires humanitarian aid, and at least 95% suffer from severe food insecurity based on the British government’s official assessment released in November 2024. 

UNRWA remains severely restricted from operating in Gaza due to Israeli bans and limitations, despite being the only agency with the capacity to manage large-scale relief with its 12 thousand staff.

Aid groups inside the Strip are racing to respond amid acute shortages of medical supplies and food, while bans on essential equipment, halted staff entry, and requirements to remove UNRWA logos from shipments continue to hinder distribution.

While such funds cannot rebuild Gaza, they can help families withstand the winter and retain a measure of dignity amid siege and displacement. For festival-goers, the event was both a celebration of identity and an act of resistance.

As the London edition concluded, organisers announced that the festival will continue in Edinburgh on 23 November at Portobello Town Hall under the slogan "United for Gaza." Between London’s packed hall and Gaza’s cold tents lies a shared determination: Palestinians will not be left to face hardship alone.