RABAT, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Morocco strongly condemned the Israeli forces' shooting against Palestinian protesters on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

17 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,400 others were wounded by Israeli forces during march calling for return of Palestinian refugees to their lands.

"Morocco denounces the use of excessive force by the Israeli occupying forces in defiance of the peaceful nature of the demonstrations," the ministry said in a statement.

It stressed that the situation in the region requires stability and restraint away from any act of violence or escalation.

"Morocco reiterates its support for the Palestinian Authority under the leadership of president Mahmoud Abbas and its solidarity with the Palestinian people to recover their legitimate rights and establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital," the statement underlined.