Moroccan Embassy in Ramallah Takes Action for Citizens in Gaza
In a significant development for Moroccan citizens currently stranded in the Gaza Strip, Morocco's embassy in Ramallah is actively updating its lists of individuals wishing to evacuate, indicating the potential for a new evacuation operation. This initiative comes over two years after the last officially reported evacuation, as sources close to the situation have informed Hespress. The embassy has reached out to Moroccans in Gaza, requesting them to provide documents to verify their nationality, along with their Palestinian identification numbers, through a specified WhatsApp number dedicated to this purpose.
According to messages circulated by an embassy employee within a WhatsApp group, the collection of this information is part of the embassy's ongoing efforts to monitor the situation of Moroccan citizens in Gaza and to refresh its existing lists of those seeking evacuation. While the embassy's actions suggest preparations for a new evacuation might be underway, there has been no official announcement or confirmation regarding such an operation.
Concerns Over Family Reunification
Amidst the anticipation of a potential evacuation, Moroccan citizens have expressed their concerns regarding the inclusion of their Palestinian spouses in any future evacuation plans. Many are worried that their Palestinian husbands or wives may not be allowed to accompany them and their children, recalling previous instances where such arrangements were not honored. In past evacuations, several Moroccan wives reported that their Palestinian spouses were unable to leave Gaza with them, a situation that has generated uncertainty and anxiety among families hoping for reunification.
The Moroccan government had previously undertaken efforts to evacuate its citizens from Gaza, with the first operation occurring in November 2023, when 112 individuals were evacuated through the Rafah crossing amidst the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Following that initial operation, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that a total of 289 people had been evacuated in four separate operations from November 2023 to January 2024, with the last reported evacuation taking place on January 30, 2024, through Rafah into Egypt. As the situation continues to evolve, many await further clarity on the potential for new evacuation efforts and the fate of their families.
As reported by en.hespress.com.
