Fouad Yazough, Ambassador and Director General of Bilateral Relations and Regional Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, represented Morocco at the ministerial conference on strengthening humanitarian response in Gaza.

In his address, he stated that the first step in this direction involves an immediate and lasting cessation of the war in Gaza, the protection of civilians, the unrestricted and sufficient entry of humanitarian aid, and its delivery to the affected populations, paving the way for the reconstruction process.

"The path to peace is not paved with roses but fraught with obstacles and challenges, particularly amid prevailing tensions and the rise of extremism and violence on all sides," he noted. To counter extremism, "political courage and perseverance in this approach are essential," he added, for a better future that ensures security and stability for the peoples of the region.

He further emphasized that the Cairo ministerial conference comes at a delicate and critical juncture in the Middle East, particularly in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Yazough highlighted the need for the international community to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. He also called for examining ways to unify efforts and establish mechanisms for the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid.

The conference, he noted, provides an opportunity to "appeal to humanity's conscience and question the international community's responsibility and the effectiveness of its actions." "Through our meeting, we must send a message of hope to the Palestinian people and to all peoples aspiring to live in security and peace," he urged.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza, he argued, underscores the critical role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as a purely humanitarian mechanism. He called for continued support for this UN body, describing it as a key element for stability in the region.

Under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, President of the Al-Quds Committee, Morocco has consistently emphasized, since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, the need to avoid targeting civilians and to prioritize the humanitarian dimension.

The Kingdom also ensures the smooth flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza through various crossings. Moreover, Morocco categorically rejects any forced displacement of Palestinians from their lands, he added.

"Morocco has not limited itself to appeals or positions but has also, under High Royal Instructions, sent emergency humanitarian aid three times, including food, water, medicine, and other medical supplies, particularly for burn and surgical emergencies," he recalled.

Guided by His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s steadfast commitment to the centrality and legitimacy of the Palestinian cause, and his adherence to the option of a just peace, Morocco firmly believes in the need to intensify international efforts to initiate a serious political process.

This process should be based on relevant international legal resolutions to achieve, through negotiations, a final political solution in line with the two-state solution. In this vision, Gaza would be part of an independent Palestinian state within the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Al-Quds as its capital.