In a powerful demonstration of solidarity, hundreds of Moroccans gathered in Marrakech to express their support for Palestine and their rejection of normalization with Israel. This rally was organized by the Moroccan Front for Support of Palestine and Opposition to Normalization, a non-governmental organization dedicated to advocating for Palestinian rights and opposing any form of diplomatic engagement with Israel.
The participants voiced their disapproval through various slogans, denouncing what they termed as provocative and normalizing practices. Recently, social media activists have circulated images of Haredi Jews performing religious rituals next to the historic Bab Doukkala wall in Marrakech, a situation that has gone unaddressed by local authorities, further fueling the sentiments of the demonstrators.
Among the chants heard during the protest were poignant messages such as, "O Zionist, you coward, the prisoner shall not be humiliated," and "The people want the normalization to fall." Protesters carried banners calling for an end to the normalization process with Israel, with slogans like, "No to the settlement of Zionists in the country," underscoring their firm stance against the establishment of any Israeli presence in Morocco.
The backdrop of this protest is significant, as Morocco restored diplomatic relations with Israel in December 2020 under U.S. mediation, a move that was met with widespread opposition from various segments of the Moroccan populace and political forces. This diplomatic engagement faced further scrutiny following high-level visits from Israeli officials to Rabat, which ceased amidst the outbreak of the ongoing war in Gaza.
On October 8, 2023, Israel launched a genocidal campaign supported by the U.S., resulting in over 72,000 Palestinian deaths and more than 172,000 injuries, with a majority being women and children. This conflict has devastated approximately 90% of the civilian infrastructure, amplifying the urgency of the Moroccan protests and the broader calls for solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
As reported by ar.shafaqna.com.
