In an event that carried a distinctive cultural, national, and humanitarian character, the activities of the Cultural Forum for Women of Palestine were launched in the city of Deir al-Balah, initiated and founded by the chosen one "Faten Harb" in a gathering that brought together a select group of women and community, cultural, and media figures, under a cultural umbrella that carries the message of the Palestinian woman and enhances her presence and role in society. The meeting began with a speech by Dr. "Tahseen Al-Ashtal," Deputy Head of the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate, who emphasized the status of the Palestinian woman and her role in the struggle and resilience, pointing to her ability to endure and continue despite various obstacles and challenges, and the Palestinian people's adherence to their identity and national constants. For her part, the President of the Cultural Forum for Women of Palestine, the chosen Faten Harb, affirmed that the gathering of Palestinian women today is not a fleeting meeting; rather, it is the beginning of a story that carries a noble cultural, national, and humanitarian message. Harb expressed her gratitude to the official sponsor of the forum, the Journalistic Solidarity Center, the Deir al-Balah Municipality and its Director General, and to those who organized this opening, welcoming all attendees from the city of Deir al-Balah and all areas of the Gaza Strip, as well as the elders and community figures, and everyone who responded to the forum's invitation and participated in its launch. She confirmed that the forum was not born from emptiness; rather, it emerged from the womb of a harsh phase that left much pain and wounds, to reaffirm the Palestinian woman's presence and her ongoing struggle, carrying stories of pain and resilience. She explained that the Cultural Forum for Women of Palestine seeks to be a platform that gathers women around awareness, knowledge, and culture, carrying the Palestinian narrative, based on her belief that women are partners in decision-making and guardians of memory and Palestinian identity. From Deir al-Balah, the city of love and peace, the women of Palestine launched their message to transcend the city's borders and extend to various Palestinian cities, reaching all of Palestine. In a statement from the Deir al-Balah Municipality, council member "Fadia Abu Meiri" emphasized the importance of this cultural edifice and its role in enhancing the presence of the Palestinian woman, praising the launch of the forum and the cultural and community message it carries. Because Palestinian culture is inseparable from its heritage, the event included a traditional artistic segment presented by the Khiyam Folklore Troupe, featuring a performance of the popular Dabka dance, blending music and movement with the spirit of Palestine and its heritage, adding a space of joy, beauty, and creativity to the meeting. Under the title "Culture is an Act of Resistance," the speech of the President of the General Union of Cultural Centers, "Yasri Darwish," came, congratulating the chosen Faten Harb on this achievement, welcoming the attendees, and affirming that this launch represents a new birth certificate for a cultural project that establishes the presence of the Palestinian woman armed with nationalism and belonging. Darwish described the Palestinian woman as a phoenix rising from the ashes, clinging to life and success, praising the women of Palestine who have preserved identity, family, and the Palestinian narrative, remaining guardians of culture, heritage, and memory. He affirmed that the Palestinian woman is the lady of the land, the mother of beginnings and the first of ends, carrying a message that extends among all Palestinian women, remaining defiant against circumstances, and a guardian of culture, identity, and heritage. Poetry had its special presence in the forum, through the participation of poetess "Kifah Al-Ghussein," who congratulated the women on this cultural launch, affirming the great need for culture as a fundamental pillar in the development of the Palestinian human and woman. Al-Ghussein presented a distinctive Palestinian poetic contribution that addressed the Palestinian mother and her role in love, upbringing, support, and the making of generations, recalling her relationship with her mother with a touching phrase: "I knew God from my mother." Thus, in one forum, the stories of Palestinian women gathered to say in one voice: We are here… We remain… and we are the ones who create the story. The event concluded with the return of the Khiyam Folklore Troupe, which presented a distinctive heritage segment, ensuring that the Palestinian Dabka remains present as an integral part of identity, and as a voice of joy, belonging, and resilience. At the end of this launch, the women of Palestine express their gratitude and appreciation to the chosen one "Faten Harb," the initiator and founder of the Cultural Forum for Women of Palestine, for this project that opens a new space for the Palestinian woman to express her presence, tell her story, and enhance her role in culture and society. Thanks are also directed to the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate for the kind hosting, to the Deir al-Balah Municipality, and to everyone who contributed to the success of this meeting, to the esteemed audience and all attendees, and to the Khiyam Folklore Troupe that added the spirit of heritage and Palestinian beauty to the event. To the Palestinian woman… You are the one who carried the home and the story, faced pain with hope, and preserved memory when war tried to steal its details… You are not just a part of the story; you are one of the most important creators of it. From Deir al-Balah, the story began… and to all of Palestine, the message extends.
