Moroccan opposition leader criticises foreign minister over Gaza “Peace Council” role

Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary-General of Morocco’s Justice and Development Party (PJD), has criticised Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita over remarks concerning Morocco’s reported leadership of a programme to combat hate speech in Gaza under the framework of the US-backed “Peace Council”.

In a video published on his official Facebook page, Benkirane questioned the context and implications of statements attributed to the foreign minister, warning that they could be interpreted in ways that harm Morocco’s image and its longstanding position on the Palestinian issue.

Benkirane stressed that Bourita was speaking not in a personal capacity but as a representative of the Moroccan state, arguing that this required greater caution and precision when addressing sensitive political matters.

The PJD leader said that calls to promote “coexistence” in the current circumstances risked being understood as an attempt to persuade Palestinians not to regard Israel as an adversary. He argued that any discourse on coexistence should instead be directed towards the occupying power rather than the population living under occupation.

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He further claimed that Israel was not genuinely committed to coexistence, asserting that the conflict remained fundamentally about land and displacement rather than a temporary political dispute.

While acknowledging that foreign policy ultimately falls under the sovereign authority of King Mohammed VI, Benkirane said this did not prevent political parties or public opinion from expressing positions on international affairs.

He reiterated his party’s long-standing opposition to normalisation with Israel, describing it as a principled stance embedded in the party’s political platform and internal decisions.

Benkirane concluded by arguing that lasting peace could only be achieved through restoring Palestinian rights, calling for efforts to persuade the United States administration to treat Palestinians fairly rather than exert pressure on them.

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