The Hague, 23 February 2024: Morocco affirmed the commitment of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, to the Palestinian cause, within the framework of the ongoing proceedings before the International Court of Justice, in the case requesting an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

The Kingdom, represented by the King's Ambassador in The Hague, Mohamed Basri, participated in the hearings held by the International Court of Justice from 19 to 29 February this month.

In this context, the Moroccan ambassador attended in support of the oral presentation given by Palestine on 19 February, alongside the Palestinian delegation headed by Riyad Al-Maliki, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.

Morocco's participation in the oral pleadings related to this case is part of the Kingdom’s continued active engagement in this file before the international court. Thus, within the same case, Morocco submitted a written pleadings to the International Court of Justice, which duly took it into consideration.

In this pleading, the Kingdom, chaired by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, head of the Al-Quds Committee belonging to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, reaffirmed its determination to "work by all available legal means to protect the legal, historical, political, and spiritual status of the holy city, and to preserve its unique character as a city of peace and encounter among followers of all monotheistic religions."

The Kingdom also renewed "its active commitment to respecting international law and promoting peace in the Middle East, which requires a just, comprehensive, and lasting solution based on the two-state principle: an independent Palestinian state on the basis of the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security, in accordance with international legitimacy, United Nations resolutions, and extending from the Arab peace initiative."

Morocco's pleading was based on the principles enshrined in the "Jerusalem Call," signed on 30 March 2019 between King Mohammed VI, the Commander of the Faithful, and His Holiness Pope Francis.

This important document especially stresses "the importance of preserving the holy city of Jerusalem as a shared heritage of humanity, and above all as a land of encounter and a symbol of peaceful coexistence for the followers of the three monotheistic religions, and a center of values of mutual respect and dialogue.

For this purpose, the special character of the holy city of Jerusalem as a multi-religious city should be maintained and enhanced, in addition to its spiritual dimension and unique identity."

Therefore, we hope to guarantee within the holy city the freedom of access to the sacred sites for the followers of the three monotheistic religions, securing their right to perform their rituals there, making the holy city of Jerusalem resound with the prayers of all believers to God Almighty, Creator of everything, for a future where peace and brotherhood prevail throughout the inhabited earth."

Furthermore, Morocco mentioned in its pleadings "the international community’s consensus on the legal status of Israeli settlements over parts of the occupied Palestinian territories – including East Jerusalem," confirming that they "represent an obstacle to peace and threaten to make the two-state solution impossible: an independent and viable Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security."

Morocco’s pleadings affirmed that "resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through dialogue and negotiation, respecting the UN’s negotiation framework, particularly Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, remains the cornerstone for lasting peace and stability in the Middle East."

"This objective frames the work of the Kingdom of Morocco, whether at the bilateral or multilateral level within the United Nations – in the framework of the General Assembly and its six main committees, and the regional groups represented in the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation – which His Majesty King Mohammed VI chairs the Al-Quds Committee within."

In conclusion, Morocco recalled in its pleadings the message sent by King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in November 2022, in which the King affirmed: "While we stress that the deadlock in the political process between the Palestinian and Israeli sides does not serve the peace we hope will prevail in the region, we encourage the positive signs and commendable initiatives aimed at rebuilding confidence to launch serious negotiations capable of achieving a just, comprehensive, and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue, according to international legitimacy resolutions, and based on the two-state solution as a realistic option."