Thousands of demonstrators organized one of the largest pro-Palestinian marches in Rabat today, Sunday, demanding an end to Morocco's relations with Israel. Anti-war protests against Israel's offensive on Gaza have drawn thousands of demonstrators in Morocco repeatedly since the conflict began more than two months ago, mostly led by Arab and Islamic groups.
Today's march was organized jointly by leftist groups and the banned Islamic Justice and Spirituality group. It appeared that most of the protesters, numbering around 10,000, were Islamists, as men marched separately from women, waving Palestinian flags and carrying banners that read "Resistance until victory," "Stop Morocco's normalization with the Zionist entity," and "Freedom for Palestine."
The demonstrators today also called for a boycott of brands they accuse of supporting Israel. Morocco agreed to strengthen relations with Israel in 2020 under an agreement brokered by the Trump administration, which also acknowledged Washington's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara region.
Despite its policy of normalizing relations with Israel, Moroccan authorities continue to support the establishment of a Palestinian state and have urged for a ceasefire in Gaza and protection of all civilians there. Although Morocco and Israel have not yet completed the process of establishing embassies in each other's countries as agreed, they have moved closer together and signed a defense cooperation agreement.
