The Ministry of Women's Affairs conducts awareness and psychological support sessions for women in the shelters in Gaza City.

The Ministry of Women's Affairs conducted a series of awareness and psychological support sessions for women in several camp shelters around the Katiba area in Gaza City, as part of the temporary employment project in partnership with the Palestinian Employment Fund and with Norwegian support. This activity is held within the framework of the ministry's efforts to enhance psychological and social support for women and to respond to their needs amid the difficult conditions faced by Palestinian society.

The Minister of Women's Affairs, Ms. Mona Khalili, assured that psychological and social support for women in the Gaza Strip is a priority given to the current exceptional circumstances, noting that the ministry is working to provide practical interventions and safe spaces that help women express their feelings and cope with accumulated pressures, and enhance their ability to adapt and persevere. She emphasized the importance of direct access to women in shelters and the development of programs that respond to their realities and needs, in partnership with relevant entities.

The sessions included the Friends Camps, Future Palestine, the Battalion, the Diwan, Al-Anan, and Al-Azhar Playground, and focused on raising awareness about the concept of psychological stress, its manifestations, and its effects on mental and physical health and daily behavior. The session as well help women recognize their feelings and needs and deal with them more positively. The sessions also allocated ample space for self-care, during which simple and practical practices were introduced to alleviate stress and psychological pressure, including calm breathing, expressing emotions, talking to a trusted person, engaging in enjoyable activities, organizing time, and attending to basic needs.

The sessions also included a series of interactive and physical activities that encouraged the participants to express their experiences and feelings, identify their sources of strength and joy, and recognize the positive qualities they possess, in addition to, providing a safe space for listening, sharing, and emotional release. At the end of the sessions, the participants feedback was listened to, and their needs and suggestions were documented to benefit from them in developing future psychological support and awareness sessions.

The ministry confirmed that these sessions are part of its interventions aimed at enhancing psychological and social support for women in shelters, and continuing to implement awareness and interactive programs that respond to the reality faced by women in the Gaza Strip, while strengthening coordination with the entities working in the camps to ensure the integration of the services provided.