Yousef R. E. Babish BScOT, BLS, YMHFA(he/him/his)

The pursuit of justice is inherently political, shaped by the structures that govern access to power, privileges, resources, and opportunities (Cummings et al., Citation2025). This dialogue is an intellectual exercise, envisioning how the late Nawal El Saadawi, the radical Egyptian thinker, feminist, physician, and writer, might engage with occupational science and occupational justice and what she could teach occupational scientists. Through this imagined conversation, I examine further the connections between occupational justice and social justice, questioning whether a truly just society is possible. El Saadawi’s revolutionary thoughts, drawn from her writings, critique the structural inequalities, colonial legacies, and capitalist systems and societies that shape human occupations. Her work challenges patriarchal oppression and the epistemological dominance of Western, Eurocentric paradigms. Through her lens, justice is not merely about individual well-being but a collective, political struggle against the systems that dictate access to meaningful occupations and agency over one’s daily life. This dialogue further critically examines whether occupational science can move beyond Western frameworks and truly address the root causes of injustice, envisaging justice as a radical process of decolonization and social transformation.

With humility as its cornerstone, Sheela Roy Ivlev through Occupational Therapy Disruptors (Ivlev, 2024) invites readers to rethink the profession’s foundations and embrace the wisdom of practitioners who navigate systemic challenges with creativity and resilience. This book stems from Ivlev’s DisruptOT grassroots, founded in 2021, which seeks to challenge the profession’s Eurocentric roots by amplifying voices from underrepresented communities and embracing decolonization and anti-oppression principles. The book documents the experiences of occupational therapy (OT) practitioners from across the globe, weaving their narratives into a tapestry of cultural, political, and social insights.

This response critically examines the AnonymOT Collective’s commentary on occupational therapy’s role in advocating justice for Palestine. Written from the perspective of a Palestinian occupational therapist, it challenges the authors’ use of anonymity, highlighting the contradiction it poses to their call for open discourse. The response critiques the possible exclusion of Palestinian voices, the lack of actionable proposals, and the performative framing of advocacy. It emphasizes the need for transparency, accountability, and the inclusion of lived experiences in justice-oriented efforts. This piece calls for genuine solidarity and meaningful action to support occupational therapists and healthcare workers in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in Palestine.

This letter addresses the article by Lipskaya-Velikovsky et al. (2025), which examined mental health and contributing factors among Hebrew-speaking higher education students in Israel during the onset of the Swords of Iron war. Their study’s focus on the population-level impacts of trauma and factors that influence mental health offers valuable insights for occupational therapy practitioners. The authors’ methodology and analysis highlight occupational therapy’s role in supporting mental health at individual, community, and population levels. However, methodological and contextual limitations bound the study’s findings, reducing its applicability to gaining an understanding of the broader occupational and mental health impacts.

Tags. across the lifespan, diversity, equity, and inclusion, Education, environmental factors, ethics, evidence-based practice/knowledge translation, group, international, mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental topics, occupational justice, scope of practice

The present war on Gaza forced a brutal reset for countless lives. Dreams, homes, careers, and daily routines have all been severely disrupted (Laurence, 2024). Before the war, occupational therapist Mahmoud El-Hallaq was building a pediatric clinic in Gaza. Yet, on October 7th, 2023, everything changed. Now, in the makeshift Khan Younis refugee camp, he contends with daily uncertainty, chasing after basic necessities (Parvaz & Baba, 2024). Mahmoud was determined to rebuild what was destroyed — for himself and for others. In this piece Mahmoud is joined by his coauthors, Yousef and Juman, to tell the story of The Tent of Hope, which was established in Rafah as an example of our collective power to resist ongoing traumatic and unjust conditions in and with the community.

As the occupational therapy profession is rooted in Western ideals, it may encounter complexities in culturally traditional settings like Palestine, especially for adults. This study reveals the challenges faced by occupational therapists in Palestine. A phenomenological qualitative approach was used, interviewing six experienced female therapists using semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling ensured a diverse participant selection. Thematic analysis revealed several key themes, such as the continuous adaptation to Western practices to fit the Palestinian context, the value of interdependence, and the unique life balance. Results show that cultural and gender norms significantly shape occupational therapy practices in Palestine. The discussion emphasizes the theoretical necessity for cultural sensitivity in occupational therapy, advocating alignment with local values and addressing resource limitations for effective service delivery.

Keywords. Adult settings; cultural characteristics; gender; occupational therapy; palestine; therapists