Marrakech – Bayt Mal Al-Qods Acharif Agency implemented the third phase of Morocco’s humanitarian aid campaign on Saturday in the Al-Bureij camp in eastern Gaza. The initiative, financially supported by the Moroccan Association for Palestine Reconstruction, delivered essential supplies to 500 displaced families most in need.
Despite dangerous security conditions, relief teams successfully reached the camp to distribute aid packages directly to beneficiaries. This approach spared vulnerable families the risks associated with traveling to warehouses and distribution centers amid Israel’s ongoing genocidal operations.
The food baskets included a variety of fresh vegetables that the agency managed to procure from local markets despite soaring prices caused by the Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) blockade and bombardment that has devastated supply chains.
Recipients expressed profound gratitude for Morocco’s efforts to assist Gazans in distress. They noted the honorable image Palestinians hold of Morocco and King Mohammed VI, while hoping for continued Moroccan solidarity with their Palestinian brothers in all circumstances.
This humanitarian action reaffirms Morocco’s uninterrupted support for Palestine under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, President of the Al-Quds Committee. The initiative comes at a critical moment when Gaza faces a deliberate extermination campaign and imposed starvation strategy by the IOF, recognized widely as such beyond Palestinian accounts.
In Gaza, a loaf of bread now costs more than hope
Health officials in Gaza report that hunger is no longer just a threat but a deadly reality inside homes. The humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels with people collapsing in the streets from starvation. Witnesses in Khan Younis and Rafah describe seeing Palestinians falling to the ground, their bodies too weak from hunger to remain standing.
Since March, Gaza has plunged into what health officials term a “real famine.” Israel’s closure of all crossings has blocked flour, baby formula and medical supplies from entering the enclave for more than four months. Bread, once a daily staple, has become unattainable for most families, available only in black markets at exorbitant prices.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that 69 children have died from malnutrition since October, with total famine-related deaths reaching 620. Another 650,000 children under age five face severe risk, alongside tens of thousands of pregnant women lacking food and prenatal care.
The ministry warned on Sunday that “hundreds of people whose bodies have wasted away are at risk of imminent death due to hunger.” The death toll continues to rise with at least 19 Palestinians, including infants, reported dead from starvation in a single 24-hour period.
The World Food Programme contradicted Israeli claims about recent shootings at aid seekers, stating victims were simply “trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation.” The UN agency asserted that “Gaza’s hunger crisis has reached new levels of desperation. People are dying from lack of humanitarian assistance.”
“Only a massive scale-up in food aid distributions can stabilize this spiraling situation,” the WFP added.
Morocco and Palestine, a centuries-old relationship
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials continue to express appreciation for Morocco’s consistent support. Ahmad Said Ahmad Al-Tamimi, President of the PLO’s Department of Human Rights and Civil Society, recently acknowledged Morocco’s vital backing for the Palestinian cause under King Mohammed VI’s leadership during meetings in Rabat.
The Palestinian official spotlighted the “centuries-old” ties between Morocco and the Palestinian Authority, voicing gratitude for Rabat’s steadfast position throughout Morocco’s history.
A Palestinian delegation concluded a training program in Morocco yesterday after attending the week-long initiative from July 14-20. The program aimed to strengthen Palestinian capacities in international humanitarian law, human rights documentation, and international advocacy, with Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH) sharing its expertise.
Israel’s brutal genocide on Gaza has continued since October 7, 2023, killing nearly 59,000 Palestinians, most of them being women and children. The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and created catastrophic food shortages and disease outbreaks.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces genocide charges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its actions in the enclave.
