One of the largest pro-Palestinian marches took place in Rabat on Sunday, with thousands of protesters demanding an end to Morocco’s ties with Israel.
Since the start of the conflict in Gaza over two months ago, Morocco has witnessed numerous protests against Israel’s war, primarily led by pan-Arab and Islamist groups. The recent march was co-organized by leftist groups and the Adl wal Ihsan Islamists, an outlawed but tolerated organization.
The majority of the 10,000 protesters appeared to be Islamists, with men and women marching separately, waving Palestinian flags, and holding placards advocating for resistance, an end to Moroccan government normalization with Israel, and the liberation of Palestine.
In 2020, Morocco agreed to strengthen ties with Israel under a deal brokered by the U.S. administration at the time, which also recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
During the march, protesters also called for a boycott of brands they believe support Israel. Israel, in response to Hamas militants crossing the border fence on October 7, vowed to annihilate Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007.
This led to a rampage through Israeli towns, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the seizure of 240 hostages.
Gaza’s health authorities report that more than 20,000 people have been confirmed killed in Israeli strikes and a ground offensive, with thousands more presumed dead under the rubble. Despite Morocco’s policy of normalizing ties with Israel, the country’s authorities continue to support the establishment of a Palestinian state and have called for a cease-fire in Gaza and the protection of all civilians.
While the process of setting up full embassies between Morocco and Israel is still ongoing, the two countries have moved closer together by signing a defense cooperation pact.
Reuters
