Our Journey

1997 – The beginning

The organisation was founded as the Foundation for Al-Quds University Medical School, established to support the development of medical education in Palestine, with an initial focus on Al-Quds University Medical School.

Its early leadership included Professor Colin Green, David Alexander Wolton and David Charles Freeman, who helped establish the foundations for an organisation dedicated to strengthening medical education in Palestine.

From the beginning, our purpose was clear: to support future Palestinian doctors by investing in medical education, training and institutional partnerships.

Growing with Palestinian medical education

As new medical schools were established and existing institutions grew, the Foundation developed partnerships with An-Najah National University, the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) and Al-Azhar University. 

Alongside these partnerships, our programmes evolved to support medical students, graduates and institutions through scholarships, bursaries, clinical training, postgraduate pathways, teaching fellowships, research, medical education projects and long-term institutional partnerships.

This evolution reflected our commitment to strengthening medical education wherever it was needed most, while remaining true to our original purpose of investing in future Palestinian healthcare professionals.

2021 – A wider name for a wider mission

As our work expanded beyond a single institution, the organisation formally became the Al-Quds Foundation for Medical Schools in Palestine (FQMS).

The new name reflected our wider commitment to supporting medical schools across Palestine, while honouring our origins and longstanding relationship with Al-Quds University.

2025 – Becoming The Hanoon Foundation

In early 2025, FQMS became The Hanoon Foundation.

Our new name is inspired by the Hanoon, the Palestinian poppy flower, a symbol of life, resilience and rootedness.

The change reflects who we are today: an organisation dedicated to supporting medical students, graduates and medical schools in Palestine through education, training and long-term institutional partnerships.

Although our name has changed, our commitment to advancing medical education in Palestine remains unchanged.

2026 – Continuing to grow

As our work continued to evolve, Arab American University – Palestine (AAUP) became part of the Foundation’s charitable remit, further extending our partnerships and strengthening our support for medical education across Palestine.

Today – Continuing the mission

Today, The Hanoon Foundation advances medical education across Al-Quds University, An-Najah National University, Arab American University – Palestine, the Islamic University of Gaza and Al-Azhar University, supporting students, graduates and academic institutions through scholarships, bursaries, clinical training, postgraduate pathways, research and long-term institutional partnerships.

Nearly three decades after our establishment, our mission remains the same: to support the next generation of Palestinian healthcare professionals and strengthen medical education across Palestine through education, partnership and long-term collaboration.

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Founders