Anthropologist Hassan Ali Ghazaly, founder of Nasser International Forum, met with Ambassador Dr Fayed Mostafa, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and Head of the Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories Sector, and Minister Plenipotentiary Dr Nawal Al-Arabi of the Sector.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of an event commemorating the victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip. The event was held at the headquarters of the League of Arab States Secretariat on Sunday, 18 October 2026.
The event was organised pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at the ministerial level, designating 17 October each year as a day to commemorate the victims of genocide against the Palestinian people. The initiative underscores the importance of preserving Palestinian collective memory, documenting violations, strengthening efforts to achieve justice and accountability, and reaffirming the international commitment to protecting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
During the meeting, Ghazaly expressed gratitude to the Palestine Sector for its invitation and warm reception. He also commended the remarks delivered by the Sector at the event, which highlighted the suffering of victims of settlement expansion, occupation and genocide.
Ambassador Dr Fayed Mostafa, in turn, shared aspects of his personal and historical connection to the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser, expressing appreciation for the former president’s role and enduring place in Arab collective memory.
He recounted that, out of his father’s deep admiration for President Gamal Abdel Nasser and pride in the history of the July 1952 Revolution, his father chose 23 July as the birth date for both him and his brother. The decision, he explained, was intended to commemorate the Revolution and honour its significance in the national and Arab consciousness, while reaffirming the central place of the Palestinian cause as the central cause of the Arab nation.
The Ambassador also expressed gratitude and appreciation to Egypt—its government, people and leadership—for its steadfast support for the Palestinian cause.
Ghazaly also met with Ambassador Zaid Al-Sabban, Director of the Sudan and Horn of Africa Department at the League of Arab States Secretariat and the League’s representative to the mechanism concerned with regional issues. The meeting took place as part of Ghazaly’s participation in events addressing the Palestinian cause and his broader interest in Arab affairs with political and humanitarian dimensions.
Their discussion focused on Arab culture and the role of literature and cinema in shaping collective awareness and strengthening cultural ties among Arab peoples. They also discussed various aspects of the Arab cultural landscape, prominent writers and readers, and their contributions to enriching intellectual and literary life. The discussions highlighted the importance of culture as a bridge for communication and stronger ties among Arab societies.
The commemoration featured official statements by the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, the President of the Arab Parliament and the Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine to the League. The statements addressed the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and emphasised the need to ensure unimpeded humanitarian aid deliveries, protect civilians, secure a ceasefire, support reconstruction efforts and hold those responsible for crimes against the Palestinian people accountable.
The event also featured humanitarian testimonies from representatives of the medical, media and social sectors, alongside a documentary film documenting violations in the Gaza Strip. In addition, an art exhibition entitled «Ahwal» (Horrors) was inaugurated, featuring works by Palestinian artists portraying different dimensions of the humanitarian tragedy endured by the Palestinian people.
The participation of Nasser International Forum in the event reaffirms its commitment to Arab and humanitarian causes and its support for efforts to keep the Palestinian cause at the forefront of regional and international attention. It also underscores the Forum’s commitment to upholding the Palestinian people’s right to freedom, self-determination and the establishment of an independent state.
