31/5/2025
Tangier, Morocco –
The Press House in Tangier hosted a solidarity intellectual seminar under the theme “We Will Not Leave” on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba. The event featured prominent Palestinian figures, including Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Head of the Refugee Affairs Department; Jamal Al-Shobaki, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Morocco; and Anwar Hammam, Deputy Head of the Refugee Affairs Department.
The seminar was moderated by Moroccan journalist Wissam Al-Hankari and was attended by a broad audience of media professionals, activists, and representatives from Moroccan institutions that support the Palestinian cause. This event is part of a series of political, public, and intellectual activities organized by the Embassy of the State of Palestine and the Refugee Affairs Department in collaboration with various Moroccan institutions.
“Palestine is the Beacon of the Free”
In his opening remarks, Dr. Said Kobrit, President of the Press House, welcomed the Palestinian delegation, stating that “standing with Palestine is a moral stance for every free person.” He emphasized the importance of organizing interactive intellectual events to strengthen awareness and deepen engagement with the Palestinian cause, especially amidst the ongoing escalation against the Palestinian people.
Abu Holi: Israel Targeting the Right of Return and UNRWA
Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi provided an update on the latest political and field developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, highlighting ongoing atrocities, including genocide, forced displacement, the destruction of refugee camps, and starvation as part of a systematic Israeli strategy aimed at erasing Palestinian presence and preventing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
He affirmed that “the right of return is sacred and non-negotiable. Our people will remain steadfast on their land and will defeat all projects that seek to undermine their national identity and rights.”
Abu Holi also warned of the escalating campaign against UNRWA, including smear campaigns, misinformation, and legal efforts to obstruct its work. He called for the protection of the UN agency and urged international financial and political support, stressing that “UNRWA remains a vital witness to the Nakba and an essential part of the international responsibility toward Palestinian refugees.”
Al-Shobaki: International Efforts to Support the Two-State Solution
Ambassador Jamal Al-Shobaki noted that Israel is accelerating its settlement expansion and Judaization policies to undermine the two-state solution. He pointed to a growing international movement, led by Saudi Arabia and France, to convene an international conference in support of the two-state solution. He also praised Morocco’s recent role in hosting a related meeting affirming support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Hammam: The Nakba Continues and Refugees Are Under Attack
Anwar Hammam provided a comprehensive intervention on the origins and continuation of the Nakba, tracing the evolution of Zionist ideology into its current religious form that seeks to resolve the conflict through the aggressive targeting of the three main pillars of the Palestinian cause: Jerusalem, borders, and refugees.
He noted that attacks on Palestinian refugees take many forms, particularly the destruction of refugee camps that stand as living testimony to the Nakba, undermining the legal definition of refugees, and obstructing the work of UNRWA.
