Hundreds of Moroccans stranded in the Gaza Strip are facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. With relentless bombardments, a crippling blockade, and rapidly deteriorating living conditions, these Moroccans are enduring severe hardship without adequate food or safe shelter, while the absence of diplomatic coordination continues to deny them the chance to return home. Hundreds of Moroccans remain stranded in the Gaza Strip, which is enduring one of the worst humanitarian crises in its history amid the ongoing Israeli onslaught that claims dozens of lives and leaves hundreds wounded every day. The targeting of civilians has intensified, particularly after Israeli forces massed to storm the densely populated city of Gaza, where residents have no refuge from bombings and assaults, further worsening the catastrophe. Speaking to Yabiladi, Moroccan citizen Mohamed Mossadeq Benkhadra, who also holds Palestinian nationality and lives in Al-Burj camp, said: «There are hundreds of Moroccan families in the Strip. At the beginning of the war, some left through the Rafah crossing, while others were unable to leave». Benkhadra is the interim director of the Association of Moroccans in the Gaza Strip, established just days before the conflict erupted to support Moroccans there. He previously spent eight years in Moroccan prisons beginning in 1985 for his activities with the Palestinian Liberation Front and involvement in the hijacking of the Italian ship Achille Lauro. After returning to Palestine, he also spent six years in Israeli prisons. Moroccans in Gaza seeking repatriation He explained that there is an official mechanism for foreigners to leave Gaza through the Red Cross, which transports them first to Jordan before they continue to their home countries. «Every day, a large number of foreigners leave the Gaza Strip in coordination with their embassies», he said. «But unfortunately, after more than a year, no Moroccan has been able to coordinate with the Moroccan Embassy in Ramallah to leave the Strip». «Many Moroccans and I have contacted the embassy in Ramallah to coordinate our departure through the Red Cross», he added. «But unfortunately, after more than a year, no coordination has been made for anyone to leave. We urge the authorities to issue instructions to the embassy to assist stranded Moroccans in returning to Morocco, especially since the embassy claims it has no instructions in this regard from the Foreign Ministry». Benkhadra also described the ongoing «tragedy» since the closure of the Rafah crossing: «Initially, when Moroccans were allowed to be evacuated, fathers holding Palestinian citizenship were prevented from leaving, separating fathers from their families. This measure, which prevents the husbands of Moroccan women from leaving, has caused a significant tragedy lasting over a year. This measure is unique to Morocco among all countries. We do not understand why it was taken». According to Benkhadra, between 300 and 400 Moroccans are currently living in Gaza under extreme conditions marked by famine and a relentless blockade, awaiting urgent intervention to secure their return to Morocco and protect their basic rights amid the deepening humanitarian crisis.
