Bethlehem University, through its Department of Social Sciences and in partnership with the Arab Council for Social Sciences – Palestine, successfully concluded the Critical Social Work Forum in Palestine under the theme: “For a Resilient Society Supported by a Social and Liberatory Safety Net.” The two-day forum, held on 23-24 April 2025, took place on Bethlehem University campus, alongside parallel sessions in Gaza City hosted by the Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO), with broad participation from academics, researchers, social practitioners, and civil society organizations.
The forum was sponsored by Doctors of the World Switzerland and Stichting Benevolentia as part of the “Capacity Building for a Sustainable Future” project, implemented by the Community Partnership Institute at Bethlehem University.
The forum commenced with a welcoming address from Prof. Iman Saca, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Bethlehem University, who highlighted the significance of the forum’s academic contributions and the range of research abstracts presented.
Prof. Eileen Kuttab, representing the Arab Council for Social Sciences – Palestine, emphasized the importance of critical thinking and analysis in social work as vital tools to challenge injustice and construct social protection systems rooted in justice, dignity, and liberation.
A powerful keynote address was delivered by Prof. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian of Queen Mary University of London, titled “Reading the Fragments and Producing Life in the Work of Social Workers.” She spoke on the ethical responsibility of social workers to create life-affirming interventions in the face of genocide, drawing on the resilience and resistance of communities in Gaza. Her presentation was followed by commentary from Dr. Iyad Al-Karnaz in Gaza, who addressed the field realities and immense challenges social workers face under ongoing aggression.
Day one featured four parallel sessions exploring themes of resistance and grassroots action:
- “Social Work as a Gateway to Resistance and Confrontation” (moderated by Firas Jaber),
- “The Tamer Foundation’s Experience in Community Protection with Children in Palestine” (moderated by Hala Al-Yamani),
- “Social Work as a Tool of Steadfastness and Liberation: Fieldworkers in Disability During War” (moderated by Kifah Abu Ghosh),
- “The Role of Grassroots Organizations Amid the War on Palestine” (moderated by Rami Massad).
These sessions featured first-hand accounts from Gaza and the northern West Bank, showcasing how social practitioners navigate colonial violence and societal fragmentation while continuing to provide care and support.
The second day began with a keynote address by Prof. Stéphanie Wahab from Portland State University, USA, titled “Palestinian Social Work Practice.” Prof. Wahab reflected on the global complicity in the oppression of Palestinians, the silencing of pro-Palestine voices in Western academia, and the need for a Palestinianized approach to social work that centers narratives of resistance, resilience, and collective healing.
This was followed by the screening and discussion of “Vibrations from Gaza”, a moving documentary by Palestinian filmmaker Rihab Nazzal, portraying the experiences of deaf children living through war in Gaza. The film highlighted the role of sensory experiences and the arts in understanding and amplifying marginalized voices.
The day continued with three parallel sessions:
- “Social Work from the Field: Mechanisms of Resilience” (moderated by Mohammed Breigith), focusing on collective healing, volunteerism, and mental health challenges;
- “Experiences from the Field” (moderated by Minerva Jarayseh), discussing psychosocial counseling, healthcare in marginalized areas, and self-care for providers;
- “Knowledge Beyond Traditional Cognitive Frameworks” (moderated by Razan Qaraan), featuring presentations on Palestinian narratives, liberation pedagogy, and new frameworks for well-being and solidarity.
The forum concluded with a closing session titled “Looking Forward in Palestine,” led by Dr. Abeer Musleh and Firas Jaber, who called for the continued development of a liberatory, community-rooted, and critical Palestinian social work practice. They emphasized the role of social workers as key actors in the struggle for liberation, social cohesion, and justice.
Key recommendations from the forum included:
- Developing knowledge frameworks that reflect Palestinian realities and practices.
- Revising social work curricula in Palestinian universities to incorporate critical and emancipatory approaches.
- Strengthening partnerships between academic institutions and organizations involved in social work.
In response to these recommendations, organizers announced the launch of a Critical Social Work Intellectual Workshop, which will serve as a space for reflection, research, writing, and collaboration among practitioners and scholars dedicated to transformative social work in Palestine.
