09/25/2026
Union of Palestinian American Women Holds Annual Fundraiser for Palestine and Gaza
Al Enteshar Al Arabi Newspaper Fatmeh Atieh
The Union of Palestinian American Women in Southern California held its annual fundraising dinner in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank, and throughout Palestine. The event drew a large gathering of Palestinian and Arab community members, as well as supporters of the Palestinian cause.
Emcee Rola Zalbak opened the evening by welcoming guests who came from different areas in response to the Union’s invitation, affirming their ongoing support for Palestinian families, children, and the injured amid the devastating humanitarian conditions in Palestine.
Guests observed a moment of silence in honor of the martyrs of Palestine. The Palestinian Youth Ensemble, a project of the Palestinian Youth Movement, then performed the Palestinian national anthem, “Mawtini,” in a moving moment that resonated with the audience.
Mrs. Wardha Abed Al Mouti, President of the Union, welcomed attendees and thanked the Union’s members, who have worked for more than forty years in service of Palestinian women and the Palestinian people. She highlighted the organization’s continued humanitarian, educational, and relief efforts in Palestine and throughout the diaspora.
She stressed that the Union remains committed to its national and humanitarian mission, especially during this critical period, when collective action is needed to support the people of Gaza and the West Bank and to preserve hope for children and families who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods.
The program included the screening of a short film titled I Am from Palestine, which expressed Palestinian identity, the deep connection to the homeland, and the Palestinian people’s right to freedom and dignity.
One of the evening’s featured speakers was Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi, who expressed his joy at being among Palestinian and Arab community members in Southern California, saying the gathering made him feel that he was among his own people.
Mahdawi thanked the Union of Palestinian American Women and everyone who continues to support the Palestinian cause. He said they sustain the struggle, plant seeds of hope, and create a home for Palestinians even when they are far from their homeland.
He reflected that most people around the world have a homeland in which they can live, but for Palestinians, the homeland lives within them. Wherever they find people who embrace their cause and protect their identity and dignity, Palestinians find a sense of belonging.
Mahdawi spoke about the story of the late child Hind Rajab, whose killing shook the conscience of people around the world and revealed the scale of suffering and injustice faced by Gaza’s children. He emphasized that thousands of other children’s stories have not been heard and that every child deserves to have their story told and their family treated with justice.
“We do not gather only to mourn, to remember, or to heal,” he said. “We gather to continue the path of struggle—the struggle to liberate our homeland, to see a free Palestine, and to bring justice to the families of Gaza’s children and to all our people.”
Mahdawi also spoke about his detention in the United States in 2025 during a citizenship-related interview, when he was held for 16 days amid the targeting of pro-Palestinian activists. He said that his case remains ongoing, but that fear is not an option.
Recalling the moment he left the citizenship interview in handcuffs and raised a victory sign before the cameras, Mahdawi said his message was that Palestinians and advocates for justice should not be afraid. “I said clearly to President Trump and his cabinet: I am not afraid of you,” he said.
Mahdawi gave special recognition to Palestinian activist Fatmeh Atieh, affectionately calling her “Khalto Fatmeh,” or “Aunt Fatmeh,” in appreciation of her moral support and determination to bring him to California to participate in the event.
He recalled that Fatmeh Atieh contacted him only days after his release in May 2025 and told him that the Palestinian community in California wanted him to join them. At the time, a court order prevented him from leaving Vermont for nearly two months. However, Fatmeh Atieh remained in contact and worked for more than a year and a half to make the visit possible.
He said her persistence and support sent him a message of hope: that Palestinians, no matter how difficult the circumstances, can remain proud, stand tall, and continue defending their rights and the justice of their cause.
Mahdawi also paid tribute to Palestinian women, describing them as the fabric of resistance and an essential force in preserving Palestinian identity, sustaining hope, and keeping Palestine alive in the hearts of future generations.
The Palestinian Youth Ensemble then presented Palestinian cultural and musical performances that received warm applause from the audience. The group performed several national and heritage songs, including “Anadikoum wa Ashod Ala Aydeekoum” (“I Call Upon You and Hold Fast to Your Hands”), “Haddi Ya Bahr Haddi” (“Calm Down, Sea, Calm Down”), and “Aneed Ana” (“I Am Defiant”), along with other Palestinian pieces celebrating heritage, belonging, and steadfastness.
The Palestinian Youth Ensemble is a project of the Palestinian Youth Movement dedicated to preserving and amplifying Palestinian culture, history, and the spirit of resistance through music and art, while bringing the Palestinian narrative to younger generations and broader communities.
The event also featured a special display dedicated to Palestinian prisoners. Large banners documented the history of Palestinian prisoners since 1930 and included the names of prisoners held in Israeli prisons, along with brief accounts of their resistance and detention. The display affirmed that the prisoners’ cause remains a central part of Palestinian collective memory and the struggle for freedom and justice.
A video was shown highlighting the Union of Palestinian American Women’s activities and assistance to families in the West Bank and Gaza over the years. Among its recent efforts was supporting more than 900 orphaned children in Gaza last year by providing clothing, food, and essential needs.
The Union has also helped support the delivery of prosthetic limbs to Gaza through Doctors for Palestine and contributed to providing dialysis machines, in addition to supporting many charitable organizations working in Gaza and Palestine.
The evening’s keynote speaker was Dr. Mohammed Mustafa, known as Dr. Mo, a British-Australian emergency physician trainee of Palestinian heritage and a humanitarian advocate. Dr. Mustafa worked at Nasser and European Hospitals in Gaza during 2024 and 2025, providing emergency medical care to wounded patients amid the collapse of the healthcare system.
In his remarks, Dr. Mustafa described the painful scenes he witnessed inside Gaza’s emergency departments. He said that speaking about Gaza’s children as “collateral damage” or merely as numbers is a form of dehumanization.
He stressed that a mother entering an emergency department carrying her injured or killed children should not simply be labeled “resilient”; her fear, pain, and right to justice must be recognized. He said that Palestinian mothers do not want their children to become martyrs, but that this is forced upon them by war and violence.
Dr. Mustafa emphasized that faith is not a call to endure injustice, but a call for justice. He said that Gaza’s children and all Palestinians deserve dignity, life, medical care, and safety. He urged attendees to continue supporting Gaza and to remember that Palestinians are a people of dignity and honor, and that the responsibility of all supporters is to work for justice, not only to mourn.
He compared Gaza’s reality to the story of Prophet Moses, describing a people trapped between the sea and an army seeking to destroy them. He said that Gaza has exposed darkness, lies, and deception, awakening millions of people around the world to the truth.
At the conclusion of the event, emcee Rola Zalbak, on behalf of the Union of Palestinian American Women, thanked all guests, donors, and supporters for their generosity and for helping sustain the Union’s humanitarian and national mission.
The evening reflected the strength of the Palestinian and Arab community in Southern California and delivered a clear message: Palestine remains present in people’s hearts and actions, and supporting Gaza and its people is a continuing responsibility until freedom and justice are achieved.
