Moroccan Protesters Demand Government Action on Gaza, Criticize Israel Normalization

"Oh, treacherous leaders," chanted the protesters gathered in Casablanca’s Place Sraghna last Sunday. Dozens of Moroccans were waving Palestinian flags and mourning the death of more than 40 Palestinians in the strip - including at least 15 children. "While we condemn the war crimes of the Zionist entity in Gaza, we also call on the Moroccan state to cancel the normalization agreement that encourages the occupation to continue its crimes," activist Mohammed El-Ouafi told The New Arab. He says he is disappointed with Morocco’s "neutral" position on the situation in the Gaza Strip.

"The Kingdom of Morocco is following with deep concern the serious deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip, due to the return of acts of violence and fighting, which have caused human losses and material damage," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad said in a statement on Saturday. It also called for avoiding further escalation and restoring calm so that the situation does not deteriorate, sparing the region further tensions that compromise the chances of peace.

This position, deemed "neutral" by pro-Palestinian Moroccans, contrasts with that of countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Turkey. The latter have firmly condemned the attack carried out by Israeli forces on the Gaza Strip.