Thousands protest Israeli attacks on Gaza in Morocco

Rabat demonstration calls for end to Israeli offensive and political ties with Tel Aviv.

People take part in a national march in Rabat on April 6, 2025, to show support for Palestinians and protest Morocco’s normalization of relations with Israel. Photo by Abdel Majid Bziouat/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

In a powerful show of solidarity, thousands protested Israeli attacks on Gaza in Morocco on Sunday, June 4, converging in downtown Rabat to denounce what they described as brutal and ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people. The mass demonstration, organized by the Moroccan Front in Support of Palestine and Against Normalization alongside several local human rights groups, brought together citizens from all walks of life demanding immediate action to halt Israel’s military operations.

The protest unfolded near the Moroccan Parliament building, where demonstrators waved Palestinian flags, chanted pro-Palestinian slogans, and held placards condemning the continued violence in Gaza. The scene was a vivid expression of public outrage following Israel's latest military offensive that resumed in mid-March after the end of a two-month ceasefire.

The protesters' key demands included an immediate cessation of the Israeli blockade of Gaza and a decisive move by the Moroccan government to sever all political and diplomatic ties with Israel. Calls for cutting ties were met with loud cheers, echoing across the capital city as demonstrators expressed disappointment with Rabat’s normalization agreement signed with Israel in December 2020.

“We are here because silence is not an option,” said protester Youssef El-Khatib, a university student. “Morocco cannot remain allied with a regime that bombs hospitals and kills civilians.”

Human cost of the offensive grows

The protest came as Gaza’s health authorities released grim new figures. As of Sunday, June 4, at least 1,335 Palestinians have been killed and 3,297 injured since Israel’s latest round of airstrikes and ground incursions began on March 18. The renewed assault followed Israel’s decision to end its ceasefire with Hamas and impose a total blockade on the Gaza Strip, including a ban on humanitarian aid that has been in place since March 2.

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Effie Defrin announced on April 3 that the IDF had entered a “new phase” in its military campaign. Though the exact nature of this new phase remains unclear, observers say it has resulted in intensified bombings and more aggressive ground operations in densely populated civilian areas.

Morocco's normalization with Israel under fire

The Moroccan protest also revived the ongoing domestic debate over the country’s diplomatic relationship with Israel. In December 2020, Morocco became one of several Arab states to normalize ties with Israel under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords. At the time, the deal was presented as a strategic move that would unlock economic and technological opportunities for both nations.

However, critics argue that normalization has come at a steep ethical and political cost. Many Moroccans view the agreement as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause and a contradiction of the nation’s longstanding support for Palestinian rights.

“Morocco’s partnership with Israel is unacceptable in light of what’s happening in Gaza,” said Fatima Zahra, a member of one of the organizing groups. “Every Palestinian child killed is a stain on our conscience if we remain passive.”

During Sunday’s protest, speakers from various civil society organizations reiterated the demand for the Moroccan government to rescind the normalization pact. They also urged King Mohammed VI, who chairs the Al-Quds Committee, to take a more assertive stance in defending Palestinian rights on the international stage.

Voices from the protest

The Rabat demonstration was not only about denouncing Israel’s actions—it was also a moment of national self-reflection and political awakening. Protesters carried photographs of bombed-out homes in Gaza, signs that read “Stop the genocide,” and banners urging international accountability for alleged war crimes committed by Israeli forces.

Young activists, religious scholars, political leaders, and concerned citizens marched side by side, unified by a common goal: justice for Palestinians. Many participants said they were inspired by the global wave of pro-Palestinian activism and felt a moral obligation to raise their voices.

One protester, an elderly man named Ahmed, said he had marched in similar rallies since the First Intifada in the late 1980s. “But this time feels different,” he noted. “There’s more urgency, more despair, and more unity. Gaza is bleeding, and we must do everything we can.”

International response remains limited

While Moroccan citizens take to the streets, the international response to the escalating violence in Gaza has been inconsistent. Although some governments have issued statements of concern, few have taken concrete action to pressure Israel to halt its military operations or lift the blockade.

Human rights organizations have accused the international community of failing to act decisively, despite growing evidence of civilian casualties, destroyed infrastructure, and a looming humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. United Nations agencies have warned that without immediate intervention, the enclave could soon become uninhabitable.

Despite the grim outlook, the Rabat protest and others like it around the world show that public pressure is mounting. The Moroccan Front in Support of Palestine and Against Normalization has pledged to continue organizing demonstrations and lobbying lawmakers until the country’s foreign policy aligns more closely with the will of its people.

A movement that won't be silenced

As Sunday’s protest came to a close, demonstrators vowed to keep the momentum going. The crowd dispersed peacefully, but the message was loud and clear: Thousands protest Israeli attacks on Gaza in Morocco, and they demand that their voices—and the suffering of Palestinians—be heard not just in Rabat, but across the globe.

The movement's leaders say the fight for Palestinian justice will not end with a single march. They plan to escalate their efforts, including educational campaigns, political lobbying, and international outreach, to ensure that Gaza’s plight remains front and center.

“Today we protested,” said activist and lawyer Samira Benhassi. “Tomorrow, we organize, we mobilize, and we continue until justice is done.”