Over the course of two days, the Step Up and Help conference - which Banfield Forge was brought in to organise on behalf of Palestine Emerging alongside Anera, and Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum - connected a diverse group of local, Islamic, and international leaders, alongside experts, donors, and grassroots actors, to confront the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to lay the groundwork for long-term recovery and development across Palestine. The gathering served as a critical platform for collaboration, strategic planning, and collective advocacy. The primary focus was to shape a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to Gaza’s reconstruction—one that addresses immediate relief needs while advancing sustainable development, healthcare and education reform, economic revitalization, and infrastructure rebuilding. A clear message emerged: while political conditions such as a ceasefire and open access remain essential, progress cannot be delayed.