Moroccan forces violently disperse pro-Palestine protests

Moroccan forces dispersed thousands of pro-Palestine protesters in 36 cities across the kingdom for demonstrating against normalisation with Israel, following last week's visit to Rabat by Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz.

Security forces on Monday evening violently dispersed pro-Palestine solidarity marches in the capital city called by the Moroccan Front in Support of Palestine and Against Normalisation in front of the Parliament headquarters.

The protests also marked the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

Protesters continued to protest and chant slogans in solidarity with Palestine despite the violence.

"With our soul, with our blood, we will redeem you, oh Palestine" was chanted by activists, along with "Palestine is in our care and normalisation is treason".

Abu Al-Shita' Musa'ef, a member of the Moroccan Front in Support of Palestine and Against Normalisation, told The New Arab's Arabic-language service Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Moroccan authorities prevented demonstrators from organising.

"The Moroccan people are committed to supporting the Palestinian people and to overthrowing all forms of normalisation," he said.

⭕️ #مباشر من #المغرب الموت ولا المذلة …عاش الشعب عاش عاش…الشعب يريد اسقاط النظام يسقط النظام المغربي…كل هذا يحدث في ظل تعتيم إعلامي ممنهج. #التطبيع_خيانة pic.twitter.com/912vy8Wwry

— 🦅﮼رَاشـــــد | Rashid (@RLehbib) November 29, 2021

"Unfortunately, we watched Morocco sign a military agreement as if it is at war. We must ask if we can even trust the Moroccan army if it has entrenched itself in betrayal."

On Monday, Morocco's King Mohammed VI said that the stability and prosperity of the region is directly linked to a just and sustainable settlement to the Palestinian issue, with a two-state solution along the 1967 borders of Israel-Palestine.

Yet Morocco was criticised for recognising Israel last year before an independent Palestinian state was established.

During Gantz's visit last week, Israel and Morocco signed an agreement making it easier for Rabat to acquire high-tech Israeli security products.

A group of Moroccan journalists and bloggers arrived in Israel at the time as part of an initiative by the Israeli foreign ministry.

Morocco was one of four Arab countries - along with the UAE, Bahrain, and Sudan - to normalise relations with Israel last year under US-engineered accords that sparked anger amongst Palestinians and much of the rest of the Arab world.