Morocco Urges International Action to Halt Middle East Violence

Rabat – In an address to the United Nations General Assembly, Morocco reiterated its call for an end to military aggression in the Middle East, stressing the importance of avoiding a conflict that could compromise any prospect of peace and stability in the region.

Morocco has called upon the international community to take immediate measures to cease military aggression in the Middle East region. Morocco’s public appeal comes amid escalating violence in the Gaza Strip, where 70% of casualties are reported to be women and children, according to UN figures. According to NGO Save The Children, a staggering 3,200 children have been killed in just three weeks of hostilities.

Morocco’s UN Ambassador Omar Hilale conveyed the deep concern of the Kingdom, regarding recent acts of violence and violations of international humanitarian law in the region, during an extraordinary session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Hilale highlighted Morocco’s top five priorities regarding the conflict. Firstly; ‘to call for the de-escalation, to stop the bloodshed and halt military attacks and also to save the region from wars of military conflict in order to achieve peace and stability. Secondly, Hilale called to “protect all civilians and refrain from targeting them under the pretext of IHL (International Humanitarian Law) and the common principles of humanity.”

Hilale continued with Morocco’s third priority, to “allow the access of the seamless flow of humanitarian aid with sufficient quantity for the Gaza Strip because the humanitarian situation is unbearable.” Hilale then called on the international community to “ reject all ideas and solutions that want to transfer the Palestinians and drive them out of their homeland to neighboring countries,” before concluding with Morocco’s fifth priority, the need to “relaunch a genuine peace process that would lead to the two-state solution.”

Advocating for de-escalation, Ambassador Hilale emphasized that Morocco calls not only for a reduction in hostilities, an end to bloodshed, and military aggression, but also, and most importantly, for a dedicated focus on the urgency and necessity to protect civilians, respect international law, and uphold universal humanitarian values.

Morocco’s steadfast support for the Palestinian cause has been evident amid the current bloodshed, with the Kingdom providing emergency humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population, as directed by King Mohammed VI, who serves as president of the Al-Quds Committee. The Moroccan aid has been entrusted to the Egyptian Red Crescent and has been transported to Gaza.

In addition, Hilale also pointed out that, in accordance with the king’s directives, the Al-Quds Committee has contributed to vital healthcare and social institutions by dealing with urgent medical and social cases arising from the current crisis.