CAIRO, January 24, 2026 (WAFA) – The Arab Parliament affirmed its support for adopting a legal name and classification for the crime of genocide committed by Israel, the illegal occupying power, against the Palestinian people.
It also called for designating October 17 of each year as a day to commemorate the victims of genocide in Gaza and to pursue accountability for those responsible through all national, regional, and international legal means.
October 17, 2023 witnessed the killing of more than 700 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in less than 24 hours, including victims of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital massacre and other massacres perpetrated by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip.
This came in a resolution issued during the Arab Parliament’s second session of the second ordinary term of the fourth legislative chapter, held on Saturday at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo, addressing the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The Arab Parliament called for obligating Israel to fully respect the ceasefire agreement, withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip to consolidate the ceasefire, pave the way for early recovery and reconstruction, open all crossings without restrictions, and ensure the safe and sustained entry of humanitarian, relief, and medical aid throughout the Strip.
It also welcomed the completion of the formation of the Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, considering it an important national step toward stabilizing conditions, improving the humanitarian situation, enabling Palestinians to manage their affairs, and preparing for the transition to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement leading to early recovery and reconstruction.
The parliament condemned Israeli statements regarding opening the Rafah crossing in one direction only, warning that this would pave the way for the forced displacement of Gaza’s population. It said such statements constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law, a blatant breach of the Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement, and an attempt to impose new facts on the ground in line with plans aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause.
The Arab Parliament urged the international community to assume its legal, moral, and humanitarian responsibilities and to compel the Israeli government to immediately and unconditionally allow the entry of mobile homes, medical equipment, and all humanitarian and relief aid, ensuring minimum protection and safe living conditions for civilians and ending their exposure to slow death under bombardment and harsh weather conditions.
It also condemned Israel’s violation of the Sharm el-Sheikh ceasefire agreement signed on October 13, 2025, and the resulting worsening of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza due to the obstruction of emergency aid.
The parliament also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of withheld Palestinian clearance revenues and an end to the systematic financial piracy, calling on the international community and financial institutions to pressure Israel to transfer the funds in full and on time.
The parliament reaffirmed that any serious path toward a just and comprehensive peace cannot proceed without genuine and effective Palestinian participation, stressing the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and an end to the occupation.
It emphasized that the Palestine Liberation Organization is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, rejecting any attempts to bypass it, and called for Palestinian unity, successful reconciliation, and the strengthening of the democratic option through general elections.
The Arab Parliament also condemned Israeli attacks on UNRWA, describing them as part of a plan to dismantle the agency and erase the Palestinian refugee issue. It called on the UN Secretary-General to take firm measures to protect the agency, its facilities, and staff, and urged countries to resume funding and support its humanitarian role.
In addition, it called for freezing Israel’s membership in the United Nations due to its systematic violations of international law, the UN Charter, and the Geneva Conventions, and urged the imposition of international sanctions on colonists and their leaders, holding Israel accountable for supporting and protecting them.
The parliament praised the efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye, under US sponsorship, to support Palestinian national consensus and advance the stages of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, stressing the importance of continued international and regional efforts to end Palestinian suffering.
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