The Secretary-General of the Moroccan opposition Justice and Development Party has criticised French President Emanuel Macron’s attack on Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, reports Anadolu Agency. While Macron said that Palestinian resistance is “barbaric”, former Prime Minister, Abdelilah Benkirane pointed out that they are legitimate resistance movements struggling against illegal occupation and genocide.
Benkirane made his comment in an open letter addressed to Macron, who concluded a two-day visit to the kingdom on Wednesday during which he signed bilateral agreements with King Mohammed VI.
“Hamas and all Palestinian factions are resistance movements against Israeli colonialism, occupation, ethnic cleansing and genocide,” said Benkirane. “The colonising entity Israel is occupying the land of Palestine illegally and so has no right of self-defence [against the colonised people].”
In a speech to the Moroccan parliament, Macron had sought to justify the genocide by citing Israel’s “right to self-defence.” He blamed the resistance groups for what happened on 7 October, 2023.
“However, the barbaric operations committed by Israel [in Gaza] did not begin on 7 October, 2023, but rather a long time ago, and have continued without interruption for more than 76 years,” Benkirane pointed out.
“The crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinians over decades, the brutal genocide committed by Israel in particular since 7 October, 2023, and the generals’ plan underway in northern Gaza for weeks are unparalleled in the history of brutality.”
According to Benkirane, labelling the Israeli atrocities as “self-defence” is a great injustice and heinous insult to the Palestinian people who have been persecuted since at least 1948.
“And to the tens of thousands of women and children who have been exterminated or mutilated by the Israeli army since last October.”
The Israeli army began unprecedented bombings of large areas in the northern Gaza Strip on 5 October, before invading it the next day under the pretext of “preventing Hamas from regaining its strength.” The Palestinians say that Israel wants to displace them and occupy the area. A complete siege was imposed on 18 October, with all communications and internet networks cut off, limiting the authorities’ ability to obtain and share information.
Israel has been waging a genocidal war in Gaza since last October. It has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, mainly women and children, and wounded at least 101,000. An estimated 11,000 people are missing, presumed dead, under the rubble of their homes and other civilian infrastructure destroyed by Israel.
