The Kingdom of Morocco condemned the incursion of extremist Jewish settlers and their allies into the square inside the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, to celebrate the Jewish Passover holiday, which violated its sanctity, according to a press release issued by Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
Morocco strongly expressed its opposition to any actions that could undermine the legal and historical status of Al-Quds (Jerusalem’s old city) and its sacred sites. It also called for the protection of the historic and Islamic heritage of the city, particularly of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and urged all parties to avoid any form of escalation or provocation.
Morocco has reaffirmed that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is essential for achieving a just and comprehensive peace and ensuring long-term stability in the region. The state should be based on the borders established in June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law.
Morocco’s condemnation comes amidst renewed tensions in the Gaza Strip, as Israeli combat aircraft resumed airstrikes on Wednesday night, targeting several areas, including the city of Rafah, ahead of the possible ground offensive Israel has been threatening for weeks now.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Wednesday that airstrikes in Gaza, targeting 30 alleged “Hamas facilities” and infrastructure, resulted in the dismantling of “terrorist cells” and weapons storage and killed several Hamas combatants, international media reported.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been pointing to Rafah as a Hamas “stronghold,” causing concerns about further potential escalation of the conflict. The Prime Minister approved the military’s plan to attack Rafah last month, but there has been no official announcement of the specific date for the assault.
Israel intends to evacuate Palestinians from Rafah to the nearby city of Khan Younis, which has already been decimated by Israel’s previous bombardments. New shelters and food distribution centers will have to be set up in Khan Younis to assist those evacuated, according to assertions from Egyptian officials cited by the Wall Street Journal.
The process of “evacuation,” a euphemism for forced displacement, is planned to last between two and three weeks and will be coordinated with the US, Egypt, and other Arab countries.
Earlier this month, an anonymous senior Israeli defense official disclosed to the media that Israel had acquired 40,000 tents that can accommodate 10 to 12 people each. Satellite images available online and diffused by the BBC reveal an area built near Khan Younis on April 7 that is supposedly intended to house a tent camp.
On Tuesday, images of the same area showed tents being set up as preparations for civilian evacuation. Meanwhile, the United States has initiated the construction of a pier in Gaza to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid by sea to the enclave. The UN and others have been warning of famine and a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza for weeks.
Yesterday, 18 countries, namely the UK, the US, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, and Spain, called for “the immediate release of all Hamas-held hostages.”
The conflict between Hamas and Israel has led to a significant number of Palestinians fleeing to Egypt, with estimates ranging from 80,000 to 100,000 seeking refuge, along with a high number of casualties. According to the latest figures from the Palestinian health ministry, the death toll in Gaza has risen to 34,305 since the conflict began on October 7, with more than 77,293 people injured during the 202 days of the war, the vast majority of whom are women and children.