In a significant display of solidarity, thousands of Moroccans gathered in Rabat on Sunday to express their unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and to protest against a controversial new Israeli law that permits the execution of Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks. The demonstration, which drew approximately 5,000 participants, took place along Mohammed V Avenue, the main thoroughfare in the capital, where many attendees proudly waved both Palestinian and Moroccan flags, as reported by AFP journalists.
The protest was organized by the National Action Group for Palestine, a coalition that unites supporters of the Justice and Development Party with leftist activists. As they marched, demonstrators chanted powerful slogans such as “no to the death penalty” and “no to occupation and Zionism,” while also voicing their discontent with Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Aziz El Hannaoui, a prominent member of the organizing group, emphasized the purpose of the gathering, stating, “We’re sending our support to Palestinian prisoners who are threatened by this new law on the death penalty.”
The recently enacted Israeli law establishes the death penalty as the standard punishment for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank who are found guilty of committing acts classified as “terrorism” by Israeli military courts. Furthermore, it extends the application of the death penalty to murder cases tried in Israeli civilian courts, provided that the accused intended to “put an end to the existence of the State of Israel.” Critics have raised concerns that this legislation effectively creates a distinct legal framework for Palestinians, which may contravene Israel’s Basic Laws that prohibit arbitrary discrimination.
Since its enactment, the law has faced widespread condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, human rights activists, and numerous foreign governments, prompting immediate legal challenges. Although the death penalty is applicable to a limited range of offenses in Israel, the country has largely moved away from its use, with the last execution occurring in 1962, when Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was put to death. The protesters in Rabat further reiterated their opposition to Morocco’s normalization of diplomatic relations with Israel, a process that began in 2020, signaling their ongoing commitment to advocating for Palestinian rights.
As reported by arabnews.pk.
