Palestinian officials praised King Mohammed VI's initiative to send urgent humanitarian and medical aid to the Gaza Strip, which is experiencing a catastrophic humanitarian situation resulting from the ongoing stifling Israeli military blockade. This blockade has led to widespread destruction of infrastructure, the collapse of the health system, and a severe shortage of food and medical supplies, exacerbating the suffering of the civilian population, a number of whom have died of starvation.
Officials speaking to Hespress stressed that this humanitarian gesture reflects Rabat's commitment to supporting the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land and represents a lifeline for many affected families in Gaza. They also praised Morocco's political and diplomatic support for Palestinian rights, while calling on the Arab and Islamic political community to exert more pressure on Tel Aviv to halt the war and engage in a political process leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, gave instructions on Wednesday to send urgent humanitarian and medical aid totaling approximately 180 tons to the Palestinian people, particularly the residents of the Gaza Strip. The aid will include basic foodstuffs, medicines, and surgical equipment. The aid will be sent via a special route, enabling it to be delivered quickly and directly to the beneficiaries, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad.
Wasel Abu Yousef, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Front and member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said: “The Palestinian people can never forget the support of the Kingdom of Morocco—its government, king, and people—for their legitimate struggles, whether through sending urgent food and medical aid to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians under siege in the Gaza Strip, or through Rabat’s constant presence at various pivotal junctures to defend our people in international forums, and to emphasize the centrality of the Palestinian cause in Moroccan foreign policy.”
Abu Youssef added: “Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, has spared no effort in supporting the struggles of the Palestinian people and calling for an end to the aggressive and barbaric war against our people. It has also rejected the policy of displacement and called for the launch of a serious political process leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, and guaranteeing the right of return of refugees in the diaspora, based on international legitimacy and relevant UN resolutions.”
The spokesman stressed to Hespress that “the King’s issuance of his instructions to send urgent medical and food aid to the besieged and starving people in the Gaza Strip, especially in these difficult circumstances, is a continuation of these Moroccan efforts, which the Palestinian people are proud of and appreciate.” He also praised the King’s positions calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, and his role in protecting the religious sanctities in the Holy City of Jerusalem through pioneering development, educational and health initiatives, as well as his firm political stances.
For his part, Anis Suwaidan, Director General of the International Relations Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Secretary General of the International Committee in Support of the Palestinian People, said: “This generous royal step expresses the concern of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for the Palestinian cause in general, and the famine and genocide taking place in the Gaza Strip in particular, where hunger is ravaging a large segment of the population in light of the strict siege and continuous bombardment by the Israeli occupation army.”
In a statement to Hespress, Suwaidan affirmed that “the Kingdom of Morocco has always been at the forefront of countries that provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land, whether through such initiatives or through the efforts of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, which strengthens the steadfastness of the Palestinians in the Holy City.” He added, “We are confident that this food and medical aid will reach those who deserve it, thanks to the efforts of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.”
The same speaker added: “In this context, we hope that His Majesty the King will intervene in two important issues that affect all members of the Palestinian people, and in which the Kingdom has already achieved a great deal. The first is to pressure the Israeli government to release withheld Palestinian funds, and the second is to intervene to open the Karameh crossing, which represents the only lifeline for Palestinians traveling via Jordan. We also hope that the Kingdom of Morocco will continue its international efforts to support the two-state solution and influence African countries that have begun to vote against, or abstain from voting in international forums in favor of the Palestinian people.”
In a related context, Qassim Awad, Director of the Human Rights and Civil Society Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization, confirmed to Hespress that “the aid sent by Morocco to Palestine, upon the instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God protect him, is an extension of the Kingdom’s historic role in supporting the steadfastness of our Palestinian people wherever they are.”
Awad added, “We trust Morocco’s ability to deliver this aid to Palestinian citizens who are in dire need of it throughout the Gaza Strip, in light of the widespread famine in the Strip that has claimed the lives of many Palestinians.” He added, “In addition to these noble humanitarian initiatives, we also expect Morocco to contribute to stopping this war led by the Israeli occupation and breaking the siege imposed on more than two million Palestinians trapped in the Strip.”
The same spokesperson stated that “in light of the killing and destruction the Palestinian people are suffering at the hands of the occupying entity, all Arab countries are called upon to undertake similar humanitarian initiatives, and to form a network of advocacy and real political influence to pressure the Israeli occupation.” He considered that “Morocco, which chairs the Al-Quds Committee, is called upon to urge Islamic and Arab countries to fulfill their obligations to disburse the allocations due to Jerusalem and support the steadfastness of the people of Jerusalem, as well as to pressure the occupation to release the withheld Palestinian funds that exceed 8 billion shekels, which undermines the efforts of the Palestinian government to fulfill its obligations towards its citizens.”
The Director of the Human Rights and Civil Society Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization called on Morocco to"pressure the remaining member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to fulfill their obligations towards the Arab Safety Net to confront Israeli plans and support the steadfastness of our people in the face of the war of genocide against them, in addition to formulating an Islamic, Arab, and international position to stand up to these attacks and support the Palestinian people and their rights."
