Gaza: The Permanent Arab Committee for Human Rights (ACHR) called on Wednesday for the adoption of the Arabic term "Ahwal" (translated as 'Horrors') and the foreign languages term "Wholocide" as designations for Israel's genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the ACHR made this call at the conclusion of its 58th session, held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in Cairo. This initiative is part of broader Arab efforts to preserve the collective Arab memory and raise awareness of the humanitarian catastrophe affecting the Palestinian people.
The ACHR also emphasized the importance of documenting Israel's historical crimes, safeguarding victims' rights to justice, redress, and remembrance, and ensuring that the perpetrators do not escape accountability.
Ambassador Mohannad Al-Aklouk, Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine to the League of Arab States, asserted that the adoption of these designations signifies a collective call by ACHR members for an annual day of remembrance for the genocide victims in the Gaza Strip. He elaborated that this initiative had been in progress for two and a half years, culminating in the decision to commemorate October 17 as the annual day to remember the victims of the "Ahwal" and pursue justice through all available legal channels.
Ambassador Al-Aklouk explained that the date of October 17 was chosen due to its significance, marking the death of more than 700 Palestinians in less than 24 hours, including victims of the massacre at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital (Baptist Hospital) in Gaza City.
The designation "Ahwal"/ 'wholocide' was inspired by the words and experiences of genocide survivors and witnesses, many of whom likened their experiences to "the horrors of the Day of Judgment" due to the severity of the Israeli occupation forces' actions. The term serves as a testament to the magnitude and brutality of the crimes committed and the inhumanity of the perpetrators.
Ambassador Al-Aklouk urged human rights organizations, educational institutions, universities, research and cultural centers, media outlets, artists, bloggers, social media users, and other public influencers to incorporate these designations in their activities and works. This adoption aims to preserve the memory of the genocide victims, honor those who lost their lives, and maintain the national and human memory of a crime that time cannot erase.