Moroccan Opposition Leader Defends Hamas, Rejects ’Terrorist’ Label

Like Jean-Claude Samouiller, president of Amnesty France, Abdelilah Benkirane refuses to qualify Hamas as a "terrorist" group. "Hamas is not a terrorist organization [...] we know them, Morocco knows them and has welcomed them, and just after the signing of the Abraham Accords they were received here (in Morocco, editor’s note). They are honorable and generous people," said the PJD leader during a press conference of his party on, among other things, the 2024 Finance Bill (PLF), thus taking the opposite view of the European Union, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia or Japan.

On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise and spectacular attack against Israel in response to the ongoing Israeli attacks, notably the killings, assaults, humiliations, land and home violations, and expulsions against the Palestinian populations. For Benkirane, the members of the movement "have shown courage". "They are not men, they are heroes and even more..." he said, advising "the Arabs, Muslims and the whole world" to take them as an example.

The Islamist leader also displays a touch of optimism about the resolution of the conflict. "And in the end we find ourselves in front of Al Aqsa. What remains of it? These people (Israel, editor’s note) have not respected what our king, who is the president of the Al Quds Committee, has done with them. They have invaded and attacked Al Quds every day. They go there because they want to take possession of it. And if the Arab and Islamic Ummah does not react, they will succeed. [...] I am pessimistic, but nevertheless I remain hopeful, hopeful in God to come to the aid of the Palestinians, and I pray for their salvation." For the PJD secretary general, "the path to the two-state solution has become shorter".

On Wednesday, Hamas authorities announced that 10,569 people, including 4,324 children and 2,823 women, have been killed in Israeli bombings on the Gaza Strip since the start of the war on October 7. For its part, Israel has recorded more than 2,500 deaths, mostly civilians. The number of displaced people in Gaza now stands at 1.6 million out of the 2.4 million inhabitants of the strip, according to the UN’s OCHA office.