Dozens of Moroccans gathered at a solidarity stand in front of Parliament in Rabat on Tuesday, May 7, to express their concern at the Israeli strikes on Rafah, a town south of the Gaza Strip where Palestinians were told to take refuge.
The event, organized by the “Moroccan Front for the support of Palestine and against normalization,” highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian intervention, calling for the reopening of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings to allow the delivery of much-needed aid.
Indeed, the UN, through the voice of its Secretary-General António Guterres, has strongly called for the immediate reopening of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings, essential for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
This closure, decreed against a backdrop of increased operational control by Israeli forces, particularly around Rafah, is critically blocking access to vital resources for the enclave’s inhabitants. “The humanitarian situation, already alarming, is severely exacerbated by the closure of these vital crossings”, Guterres stressed in an address.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s escalation of its conflict against Gaza has resulted in enormous loss of life, mostly women and children, and almost 10,000 missing persons. The offensive has also led to a famine that has claimed the lives of many children and the elderly, exacerbating an already dire situation.
Participants at the vigil also expressed their indignation at the United States’ continued support for Israel, including the supply of weapons used against civilians. These actions run counter to the rules of international law, exacerbating an already critical humanitarian crisis. The area is particularly hard hit by a severe shortage of food, water and medicines, a situation exacerbated by the restrictions imposed by Israel.
The conflict also saw significant developments on Monday, with the Hamas group announcing its agreement to an Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, which Israel deemed insufficient.
The situation remains tense, however, with Israel continuing its military operations despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate halt to hostilities, and demands from the International Court of Justice to prevent acts of “extermination” and improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
This Moroccan call for action and international solidarity underlines the gravity of the crisis in Gaza and the urgent need to respond to the humanitarian appeal to alleviate the suffering of Gazans trapped in this protracted conflict.
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