The Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) has always been a space for sharing knowledge, but this year, it became a vital space for sharing struggles. In a powerful session titled ‘Solidarity with Palestinian Landworkers,’ the conference highlighted the resilience of farmers facing unimaginable hardship.
For those of us in Sheffield, one story resonated deeply: hearing from Mahmoud Zwahre and his challenges on his family farm in the West Bank. A farm twinned with our own.
Mahmoud Zwahre, one of the speakers, a farmer, on a family farm in Al-Ma’sara, a village South of Bethlehem is also an activist and an academic at Coventry University. His family farm is now twinned with Regather, this twinning project is one rooted in human connection. It is based on “exchanging stories from both farms in order to foster hope and sustain agroecological farming practices.” In a time when physical borders are tightening and Palestinian landworkers face isolation, this exchange of stories acts as a lifeline—proof that they are not unheard or forgotten.
In November and December 2025, the Regather Farm team received a flurry of messages from Mahmoud sharing images and stories of Israeli Defence Forces invading homes in the village during the night and blocking roads isolating villagers from each other. At the time it was harrowing to hear and we did our best to share with local activists.
Whether in Sheffield or Palestine, we believe everyone deserves the right to grow their own food, protect their seeds, and look after their land for the next generation.
Mahmoud’s contribution to the ORFC session offered a profound look at what farming means under occupation. He spoke of sumud—steadfastness—as a decolonial practice. For farmers in his region, maintaining a relationship with the land is an act of resistance against the “concrete forests” of illegal settlements that now surround his village.
One quote from Mahmoud particularly stood out, capturing the essence of food sovereignty:
“If you eat from your axe digging, your thoughts will be independent and you will be able to lead a revolution.”
It is a reminder that growing food is not just about calories; it is about autonomy.
The session at ORFC made it clear that the situation for Palestinian farmers has intensified, with the destruction of the Local Seed Bank by the Israeli Defence Force and increased settler violence making every harvest a struggle for survival.
In this context, the partnership between Regather and Mahmoud’s farm offers a tangible model for solidarity. It isn’t just about aid; it is about mutual recognition. As Mahmoud urged the audience in Oxford: “Twin with Palestinian farmers. We don’t want to be alone… Do not underestimate any single action you are doing here.”
Regather’s work with its twinned farm illustrates that our local food systems are part of a global conversation. By sharing stories and skills with farmers in Al-Ma’sara, we in Sheffield are helping to keep a window of hope open.
As the ORFC recap eloquently put it, “Your struggle is my struggle.” Whether in the rolling hills of Sheffield or the olive groves of Bethlehem, the fight for a just, sustainable, and free food system is one we all share.
For more on the session and the wider context of Palestinian solidarity at the conference, you can read the full write-up here: ‘Your struggle is my struggle’ Palestinian Farmer Solidarity at ORFC 2026
Watch the session at Oxford Real Farming Conference 2026
Picture shared with Regather of road blockades in Al-Ma’sara
