Moroccan Demonstrators Rally in Support of Palestine and Against Ties with Israel
Thousands of Moroccans took to the streets of Casablanca on Sunday to show their solidarity with the Palestinian people and voice their opposition to ties with Israel. The demonstration, which comes more than seven months into the Gaza war, saw protesters chanting slogans like “Freedom for Palestine” and “No to normalization,” while many donned keffiyeh scarves and waved Palestinian flags.
The North African kingdom had established diplomatic relations with Israel in late 2020 as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords, a move that was also made by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. In exchange for normalizing ties with Israel, the United States recognized Morocco’s claim to sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza on October 7, there have been numerous large-scale demonstrations in Morocco calling for the annulment of the normalization agreement. The recent protest in Casablanca was organized by a coalition of leftist parties and Islamist movements.
One demonstrator, Zahra Bensoukar, expressed her reasons for participating in the rally, stating, “I cannot remain indifferent and silent in the face of what is happening to the Palestinians who are being killed on a daily basis.” Another protester, Idriss Amer, emphasized his solidarity with the Palestinian people and his opposition to the “Zionist massacre in Gaza.”
While Rabat has condemned what it described as “flagrant violations of international law” by Israel during its conflict with Hamas, there has been no indication that Morocco intends to reverse its normalization of relations with Israel. The Gaza war erupted after Hamas launched a major attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of over 1,170 people, predominantly civilians, according to official Israeli figures.
In response, Israel carried out a retaliatory offensive that claimed the lives of at least 35,456 people in Gaza, the majority of whom were civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry. Additionally, Hamas took around 250 hostages during the conflict, with 124 individuals still being held in Gaza, including 37 who are believed to have died according to the Israeli military.
The demonstration in Casablanca underscores the deep-rooted sentiments among Moroccans regarding the Palestinian cause and their opposition to normalization with Israel. The ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to evoke strong emotions worldwide, prompting calls for justice and an end to the violence that has claimed countless lives.
As tensions persist in the region, it remains to be seen how governments will navigate their relationships with Israel and address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. The voices of those who took to the streets of Casablanca serve as a reminder of the enduring support for the Palestinian people and the widespread desire for peace and justice in the Middle East.