In a first, Morocco takes a bolder stance against Israel's war on Gaza

For the first time since 7 October, Rabat has openly called for an end to the Israeli war on Gaza and unequivocally rejected "attempts" to displace Palestinians forcibly.

However, for local pro-Palestine activists, this statement is nothing new, as it falls short of addressing two key demands: condemning the genocide and cancelling normalisation.

"On this occasion, the Minister reiterated the steadfast position of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Jerusalem Committee, on the necessity of an immediate, comprehensive, and sustainable cessation of the Israeli war on Gaza and enabling the Palestinian population in the strip to access urgent humanitarian aid," said a press release published Tuesday, 13 February, on the Moroccan foreign ministry's website.

The release included part of a phone conversation between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Hussein al-Sheikh, the Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

A few hours after its release, Rabat's recent statement on Gaza has already sparked significant reactions on social media and among pro-Palestine activists in the North African Kingdom.

On the one hand, this is the first time Moroccan FM Bourita has publicly spoken about the war, as for the past four months, most of Rabat's positions on Gaza were quoted from anonymous sources.

However, local pro-Palestine activists have pointed out several flaws in the new press release — "Flaws that show that Mr. Bourita is still walking the path of normalisation with Israel," said Aziz Hanaoui, a member of the Moroccan group against normalisation, to The New Arab.

"The only difference is this is a phone call between the minister and Al-Sheikh instead of using anonymous sources as usual. Meaning they (Rabat) are still using new formats to avoid making an official and clear position on the genocide in Gaza," added Hanaoui.

The renowned figure of the Moroccan group against normalisation has also criticised the wording of the ministry's statement on Rafah as "offensive and inappropriate."

"They say they are worried about the attacks of Rafah. We use the word worried to speak on small events, not on genocide," he said. 

For local pro-Palestine activists, Rabat will only be on the right side of history when it condemns Israel's genocide, revokes normalisation with Israel, and closes the Israeli office in Rabat.

Last month, Moroccan pro-Palestine groups tried three times to submit an anti-normalisation petition signed by over 10,000 people to the head of the government, but they were denied access over reasons the groups deemed absurd.

"Our next step will be taking our case to the parliament or the justice system for being denied our constitutional right," Hanaoui, one of the organisers behind the petition, said to TNA.

"We will not give up until normalisation is revoked and the Israeli office in Rabat is closed, added Hanaoui.