HANAN HARITE

Morocco-  Since the “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” launched by Hamas on Israel on October 7, Israel has been carrying out attacks on the Gaza Strip, targeting civilians and their settlements. Yesterday, the four-day truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was extended by two days. NuJINHA spoke to women activists in Morocco about Israel's attacks on Gaza.

Moroccan political activist and human rights defender Hind Mumayez condemned the ongoing Israel’s attacks on Gaza. “Israel has carried out inhuman practices against the Palestinians with the aim of annihilating them and erasing their identity. The Middle East suffers from political tensions and armed conflicts in Syria, Palestine, Iraq and Yemen. These countries are affected by the intervention of the great powers in the region. The Palestinians have been resisting for more than 70 years to get their land back.”

Recalling that women paid a heavy price in the attacks of ISIS on Iraq, she said:

“Yazidi women were killed, raped and abducted by ISIS. The sovereign powers use the conflicts in the region in order to seize the resources of these countries and control their economy, which has a negative impact on society.”

‘Western countries support Israel's plans on Palestine’

Noting that the Palestinian people have been living in difficult conditions as a result of the occupation of their land by Israel since the 1940s, Hind Mumayez said, “The Palestinian people have been resisting to have a free life. The Western countries support Israel’s plans on Palestine because they want to extend their complete control over all Palestinian lands. Consequently, thousands of people have been displaced and killed. Israel targets women and children in its attacks and this is a war crime.”

‘The war must be stopped immediately’

Hind Mumayez also spoke about political and economic stability in the region. “The war must be stopped to rebuild political and economic stability in the region. The international conventions must be implemented to protect civilians. Women have an important role to support the Palestinians. They should hold marches and protests to demand the stop of genocide being committed in Gaza.”

 ‘The Middle East has become a region of international conflicts’

Malika Zekhnini, a member of the Moroccan Parliament and a professor of International Law at Sultan Moulay Slimane University, thinks that the Middle East has become a region of international conflicts. “There has been tension for decades. However, the international community has been unable to solve the Palestine issue. As in Syria and Iraq, violence, chaos and foreign intervention have expanded in Palestine.”

Speaking about the living conditions of women in conflict zones such as Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Sudan and Iraq, she said, “It is known that many rights and freedoms are suspended in conflict zones. Women, children and old people are most affected by conflicts in the Middle East. Women and children in conflict zones are subjected to many rights violations such as arrest, kidnapping, sexual assault, rape and they are deprived of their right to education and health.”

‘Women and girls must be protected’

Malika Zekhnini said that an international law protecting civilians in armed conflicts should be drafted. “Women and girls in conflict zones are subjected to different forms of violence. Women and girls in conflict zones must be protected. Palestinian women have been subjected to all forms of violence such as physical, social, economic and political violence for years. Women in Yemen, Iraq and Syria are also subjected to all forms of violence. The solution of the Palestine issue is a must to achieve peace in the Middle East.”