Al Aqsa Director, Palestinian Presidential Advisor Acknowledge Moroccan Gaza Aid
In a statement to MAP, Morocco's news agency, Sheikh Al Kiswani commended the country for its 'incessant efforts in support of the Palestinian people,' describing the royal initiative as 'an act of benevolence to alleviate suffering' for Gaza's population, who lack basic necessities.
'These laudable efforts are highly appreciated by our families in Palestine and the residents of the Holy City,' Sheikh Al Kiswani stated.
He specifically recognized Morocco's continued support through various projects, particularly programs from the Bayt Mal Al Quds Acharif Agency that preserve Jerusalem's civilizational heritage and Islamic identity.
Mahmoud El Habache, the religious affairs and Islamic relations advisor to the Palestinian president, echoed this sentiment. 'This noble royal gesture follows the line of multiple initiatives by the Sovereign in favor of the Palestinian cause,' El Habache told MAP.
King Mohammed VI is a 'great humanist' and genuine ally of the Palestinian cause
He described the monarch's action as demonstrating 'great humanist fiber and spirit of solidarity' toward Palestinians, especially Gaza residents.
For Palestinians, 'these human gestures are not foreign to the Kingdom of Morocco,' El Habache argued. Instead, he elaborated, they embody the Moroccan people's commitment to uphold solidarity values with Palestinians under King Mohammed VI's leadership.
El Habache characterized the aid as 'a new illustration of the major role of His Majesty the King, President of the Al-Qods Committee, in support of the Palestinian people and their causes.'
The aid package, totaling nearly 180 tons, contains essential food supplies, milk, specialized products for children, medicines, and surgical equipment for vulnerable populations. It also includes blankets, adapted tents, and other necessary equipment for those displaced.
Morocco's Foreign Ministry announced that the aid will follow a 'specially arranged route designed to ensure rapid, secure, and direct delivery to Palestinian beneficiaries.'
This measure aims to bypass the brutal blockade that has deliberately cut off other international aid efforts and hindered the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
This aid arrives as Gaza endures catastrophic humanitarian conditions amidst a relentless Israeli genocidal campaign. The death toll has surged beyond 60,000, with countless civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, slaughtered in the ongoing onslaught.
Netanyahu's government continues to systematically destroy Gaza's infrastructure while deliberately blocking food, medicine, and essential supplies, creating conditions of mass starvation and preventable deaths.
UN agencies report that over 80% of health facilities lie in ruins or function minimally, leaving doctors to perform surgeries without anesthesia and treat wounds with vinegar instead of disinfectant.
Desperate families scavenge for food while children waste away from malnutrition. The deliberate targeting of hospitals, schools, and refugee camps has created a hellscape of suffering as the world watches.
In March 2024, Morocco launched an unprecedented initiative, sending approximately 40 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza through Israel after air transit to Tel Aviv. As President of the Al-Quds Committee, King Mohammed VI maintains a unique role coordinating support for Palestinians based on urgent needs from the ground.
The current aid shipment, which goes beyond symbolic gestures, was announced Wednesday and represents one of Morocco's largest humanitarian contributions to Gaza during this unrelenting crisis, which continues to claim innocent lives daily through bombs, bullets, and the weaponization of hunger.
Read also: Gaza is Starving, and the World is Watching it Live
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
6 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
El Bakkali praises Moroccan diplomats in Israel for swift support after detention
On July 27, Israeli authorities released Moroccan journalist Mohamed El Bakkali, who had been aboard the humanitarian vessel Handala en route to Gaza. Upon his return to Morocco, El Bakkali expressed surprise at the swift and proactive efforts of the Moroccan liaison office in Tel Aviv, as he shared in an interview with Moroccan media outlet. «Upon my arrival in Israel, I was met by Abdelrrahim Bayoud, head of the Moroccan mission in Tel Aviv, along with the consul, Mrs. Khadija (whose surname escapes me). This is a moment for the history books», he said. The Al Jazeera journalist noted that Moroccan diplomats were significantly more engaged than their counterparts from other countries with nationals aboard the Handala, which was intercepted by the Israeli navy in the Mediterranean on July 26. «I say this with utmost sincerity. I thank them, as well as the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for their decisive action», he said. It is worth recalling that El Bakkali had previously issued a video plea addressed to the «authorities of [his] country, Morocco», urging them to intervene and secure his release from Israeli custody. The interception of the Handala as it sailed toward Gaza prompted widespread calls for Moroccan diplomatic intervention on behalf of the journalist.
Morocco World
10 hours ago
- Morocco World
Morocco Launches New Integrated Territorial Development Program
Marrakech – Morocco has initiated a new ambitious territorial development program following King Mohammed VI's directives in his throne speech of July 29. The program marks a shift toward an integrated approach to spatial planning, moving away from traditional social development methods. A strategic meeting was held today in Tetouan, alongside the annual working meeting with walis and governors responsible for territorial administration and central services of the Ministry of Interior, according to a statement. Several government members attended this meeting, including ministers of Interior, Equipment and Water, National Education, Preschool and Sports, Health and Social Protection, National Territory Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy. The gathering also included ministers of Agriculture, Maritime Fishing, Rural Development and Water and Forests, as well as Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills. Walis and governors were also present. The main objective was to identify the best strategies for the effective implementation of this royal program, considered a national priority. The initiative aims to ensure a dignified life for Moroccan citizens through four key pillars: job creation and promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening basic social services (particularly education and healthcare), adopting a proactive and sustainable water resource management model, and launching integrated territorial development projects that align with nationwide megaprojects. Participants stressed the collective responsibility and need to redouble efforts while maintaining constant mobilization to accelerate this project's implementation. Special attention was given to the integrated nature of future programs, requiring enhanced coordination, convergence of actions, and adoption of a participatory approach based on synergy between various local actors. The meeting expressed total commitment to the imperatives of this new phase, based on a vision focused on integrated territorial development and results-oriented governance with tangible impacts. The group recognized the importance of merging public policies with citizens' aspirations to promote equitable social and territorial justice. 'No place for a Morocco moving at two speeds' This new approach comes as part of the sovereign's vision for advanced regionalization, which is now entering a new phase. The monarch has outlined four fundamental guidelines for this generation of programs based on the pooling efforts of all stakeholders around national and territorial priorities. Nearly a decade after implementing advanced regionalization, which culminated in the prominence of regions in territorial development through Organic Law 111-14 of 2016, this project is about to reach a new level. The royal speech coincides with a phase of regional development driven by the second mandate of Regional Councils (2022–2027) and the ongoing implementation of the program to reduce territorial and social disparities. Currently, three regions continue to concentrate more than 58% of national wealth: Casablanca-Settat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima. King Mohammed VI has rejected the idea of a 'two-speed Morocco,' calling for a collective 'surge' in the overall upgrading of territorial spaces and catching up on social and spatial disparities. 'Our objective is that, without distinction or exclusion, and in whichever region, the fruits of progress and development benefit all citizens,' the King added. Recent data shows Morocco's progress, with the multidimensional poverty rate decreasing from 11.9% in 2014 to 6.8% in 2024. The country has recently joined the category of 'high human development' countries according to the Human Development Index (HDI). Despite these positive indicators, the King pointed out that some areas still experience forms of poverty and precariousness due to a lack of basic infrastructure and equipment, particularly in rural areas. This new generation of public policies aims to ensure that development benefits reach all citizens, regardless of their social group or region. Tags: advanced regionalization in moroccodevelopment program
Morocco World
11 hours ago
- Morocco World
France Airdrops Aid to Gaza as Calls Grow for Israel to Open Crossings
Rabat – France has begun airdropping food into Gaza, where people are facing severe hunger and growing signs of famine. French President Emmanuel Macron said 40 tons of humanitarian aid were being dropped by air, but warned that this was not enough. 'Faced with the absolute urgency, we have just conducted a food airdrop operation in Gaza,' Macron wrote on social media platform X. He thanked Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Germany for their help. But he added: 'Airdrops are not enough. Israel must open full humanitarian access to address the risk of famine.' The French government is sending four flights from Jordan, each carrying 10 tons of aid to Gaza. While the airdrops are meant to help people quickly, some aid leaders have criticized them as expensive and inefficient. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said the airdrops cost 100 times more than aid delivered by trucks but only carry half as much. 'If there is political will to allow airdrops, which are highly costly, insufficient, and inefficient, there should be similar political will to open the road crossings,' Lazzarini wrote. He added that 6,000 trucks filled with aid are waiting at Gaza's borders. 'As the people of Gaza are starving to death, the only way to respond to the famine is to flood Gaza with assistance,' he said. 'Let's go back to what works and let us do our job.' Humanitarian workers inside Gaza say the situation remains critical. Olga Cherevko, from the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that while Israel has allowed a bit more aid to enter, the amount is still far from enough. 'The slight increase in what is coming in is not nearly enough to even scratch the surface to meet the people's needs here on the ground,' Cherevko said from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. She said that Palestinians are still suffering from extreme hunger, malnutrition, and hopelessness. One of the biggest problems, she said, is that the UN must coordinate every step of the aid process with Israel, which often delays or blocks the deliveries. 'People are continuing to starve, malnutrition rates continue to go up, people are risking their lives to get food, and there's no real change,' she said. Meanwhile, Israeli Occupation Forces have killed at least 42 people in Gaza since early this morning, according to local hospital sources. They said that at least 15 of those killed were people who had gone out to look for aid. Tags: FranceGazaIsraelPalestine
