Moroccan Crown Prince receives Palestinian children from Jerusalem in Tetouan
Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan has demonstrated Morocco's support for the Palestinian cause by receiving Maqdessis children at the Royal Palace in Tetouan
On 25 August, the Moroccan Crown Prince, Moulay El Hassan, welcomed Maqdessis children participating in the 16th edition of the summer camps organised by the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al Sharif Agency to the Royal Palace in Tetouan.
The term Maqdessis comes from the Arabic name for Jerusalem, Al Quds, and refers to Palestinian citizens living in the Holy City. The director in charge of managing the Beit Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency, Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, told the press that the Crown Prince's reception of the Maqdessis children reflects King Mohammed VI's attention to Jerusalem and his constant interest in its inhabitants from all social classes.
The Morocco-Jerusalem link
Prince Moulay Hassan's initiative to receive the children of Jerusalem has a deeper meaning that reaffirms the continuity of Morocco's role in supporting the Palestinian cause.
The country has played a historic role since the time of King Mohammed V in defending the city of Jerusalem and its population. In this sense, the Moroccan Crown Prince's reception of the Maqdessis children renews his commitment to the Palestinian cause, confirming the transmission of this principle to future generations.
Under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, President of the Al-Quds Committee, this initiative reinforces the Agency's action, dedicated to supporting Jerusalem and its population through numerous projects with a direct impact on women, children and people in vulnerable situations.
The ‘Harat Al Maghariba’ edition, organised from 10 to 26 August, brought together 50 Palestinian children from the Holy City, aged between 11 and 14, who were accompanied by five monitors from Jerusalem. The programme included educational trips, artistic and sports competitions, as well as cultural visits accompanied by Moroccan children.
Since its launch in 2008, the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al Sharif Agency's holiday camp programme has enabled 800 children from different neighbourhoods of the Holy City, accompanied by 80 monitors, to discover various regions of Morocco and confirm the strength of Moroccan support for Palestine.
The Crown Prince's personal reception of these children sends a strong message to the international community, making it clear that Morocco attaches vital importance to the issue of Jerusalem and that its interest in it is not a one-off, but has been part of its foreign policy for many years.
Genuine interest in Jerusalem
The welcome given to the Maqdessis children goes beyond mere political support to extend to the humanitarian and cultural spheres, giving these Palestinian children the opportunity to have fun and learn about the history and culture of the sister country of Morocco, which strengthens their sense of Arab and Islamic belonging and at the same time alleviates their suffering.
Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui emphasised that the Alawite sovereign's personal supervision of the agency's work further commits it to continuing its efforts to fulfil the Agency's duty to serve Al Quds and the Maqdessis.
The participants in the 16th edition of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency summer camp, children and monitors alike, expressed their deep appreciation and gratitude to King Mohammed VI for the initiatives he carries out for the benefit of the inhabitants of Al Quds, especially children, women and young people.
Support for the Palestinian cause
Morocco's constant and enduring commitment to the Palestinian cause stems, according to several statements by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, from the deep conviction that Palestine is not only the cause of a people, but the dignity of a nation.
Morocco's position of solidarity is reflected on the ground in concrete actions at difficult times. Thus, for many years, the King, the Government and the people of Morocco have shown their leadership among the countries that support the Palestinian cause.
The country combines its ongoing support for the Palestinian cause with political and diplomatic action defending the right of Palestinians to have their own state and live in peace, and initiatives on the ground in the form of humanitarian aid benefiting the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip.
Morocco's approach in support of the Palestinian cause and people is based both on diplomatic and political efforts and initiatives aimed at establishing peace in the Middle East and on daily action in the service of Palestinians through projects on the ground aimed especially at families and children.
The actions supported by the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al Sharif Agency seek to strengthen the resilience of the Maqdessis through projects in the areas of food, medical care and schooling.
Convinced of the two-state solution, Morocco has been fighting for decades for a lasting and comprehensive solution to this conflict, based on its conviction that there can be no agreement without the establishment of a Palestinian state coexisting with the State of Israel.