Arab League Declares October 17 Memorial Day for Gaza Victims
The Arab League designated October 17 as a memorial day for Gaza victims, linking the date to the 2023 Al-Ahli Hospital blast. Hamas welcomed the decision, seeking international recognition.
The Arab League has designated October 17 as a memorial day for the victims of what it terms Israel's "genocide" in the Gaza Strip. The date coincides with the October 17, 2023 explosion at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City.
Hamas blamed Israel for the blast, while the IDF stated that the explosion was caused by a failed rocket launch by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. On Monday, senior Hamas official Basem Naim welcomed the move and called for it to become an international memorial day.
The Al-Ahli Hospital Blast
The explosion at the Al-Ahli Hospital occurred ten days after the October 7 Hamas terror attacks. Initial reports blamed an Israeli strike, triggering international outrage.
However, IDF intelligence and independent assessments, including by Human Rights Watch, indicated that the blast was consistent with a misfired rocket from Gaza rather than an Israeli aerial bomb.
Hamas Response
Basem Naim praised the Arab League decision, stating:
We highly appreciate the decision to make October 17 a day to remember the victims of the genocide carried out against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Naim urged the international community to adopt the date globally to ensure justice and accountability.
