Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), emphasized that the Nakba of the Palestinian people is not a distant historical event, but an ongoing and lived reality marked by persistent violations of rights and continued loss of life. She described it as a lasting tragedy that continues to test both human conscience and the credibility of the international human rights system.

She made these remarks during a commemorative event organized by the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Morocco on Wednesday, May 28, at Morocco’s National Library in Rabat. The event marked the 77th anniversary of the Nakba under the theme “We Will Not Leave… Palestine Belongs to the Palestinians.” In her address, Ms. Bouayach called on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities, emphasizing that the Nakba is not only a Palestinian issue, but a global one. “It is a true test of the world’s conscience, reflecting the credibility of international commitments and the collective capacity to uphold the principles established to prevent the horrors of war and displacement,” noted the CNDH Chairperson.

Ms. Bouayach added that the Nakba also represents a failure of the human rights system itself, which has yet to put an end to the recurring tragedies of war. As such, it concerns all of humanity. If it persists, she warned, it will not remain a tragedy affecting Palestinians alone, but will stand as a broader human tragedy. Commemorating the Nakba today, she added, should be seen as a moment to awaken the human conscience, to reject war, and to strengthen the protection of civilians.

She also reaffirmed that the CNDH , as an independent national human rights institution, has consistently advocated for the rights of the Palestinian people. This position aligns with those of regional and international human rights actors, as well as with Morocco’s longstanding commitment, reflected in its active engagement in peace efforts and concrete humanitarian and development initiatives. She highlighted the continued commitment of His Majesty the King through initiatives that place the Palestinian people at the center of concern and action.

On this occasion, she also echoed the urgent humanitarian appeal issued by the Palestinian Commission for Human Rights to the international community and the United Nations. The appeal calls for immediate and effective measures to secure a lasting ceasefire, lift the blockade on Gaza, ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid, and uphold United Nations resolutions.

Concluding her remarks, Ms. Bouayach emphasized that international human rights law, one of humanity’s most significant achievements, is not an obstacle to securing the rights of Palestinians. On the contrary, it provides the essential framework to guarantee the enjoyment of rights for all, without exception. Respecting and implementing these rights, she stressed, is not a matter of political choice or moral discretion, but an imperative that cannot be postponed or negotiated.

The event also featured remarks by the Ambassador of the State of Palestine in Rabat, Mr. Jamal Al Shobaki, and Mr. Ahmad Abu Holi, Head of the Department of Refugee Affairs at the Palestine Liberation Organization, and was attended by a range of institutional, human rights, and civil society actors.