Morocco: anti-normalisation protests continue after Israeli officials leave

Despite the evacuation of Israeli officials from Rabat, Moroccans continue their protests until normalisation with Tel Aviv is revoked.

According to Israeli and Moroccan media, on Wednesday, 18 October, the Israeli representative in Morocco was reportedly evacuated to Israel along with other Israeli officials who were working at the liaison office in Rabat.

A few hours after the news, thousands of Moroccans took to the streets for the second day in a row in anti-normalisation protests.

In Casablanca, hundreds headed to the American consulate on Wednesday, calling out the "US' complicity in the Israeli war on Gaza."

The US vetoed a UN resolution Wednesday to condemn all violence against civilians in the Israel-Hamas war and to urge humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza; it was the only vote against the resolution.

From Rabat to Fes, thousands chanted for a "free Palestine" and the end of the normalisation deal with Tel Aviv.

Following the Oslo Accords, Morocco normalised ties for the first time with Israel "to maintain dialogue and understanding." But Rabat had to walk away from this controversial partnership in reaction to Israel's brutality during the second Intifada in 2000 and the Moroccan street's rising opposition to Tel Aviv.

Morocco and Israel re-normalised ties in December 2020 under the US auspices. Over the past three years, Rabat has failed to legitimise the deal for most Moroccans, who see loyalty to the Palestinian cause as a moral compass.

Since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza on 7 October, the opposition to the normalisation has grown louder and firmer in the North African Kingdom, with unprecedented numbers rallying daily in solidarity with Palestine.

In an interview with Moroccan media, Hespress, a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, denied Thursday the closure of the Israeli liaison office in Rabat, arguing that Tel Aviv "took measures related to temporary circumstances."

"Israel assures all Moroccans that relations between Tel Aviv and Rabat are built on strong and solid foundations and will not allow any party to harm them," he added.

Local Pro-Palestine groups in Morocco are vowing not to leave the streets until Rabat closes the liaison office and annuls the normalisation deal with Tel Aviv.

Moroccan foreign ministry, which has condemned violence on both sides amid the Gaza war, has yet to comment on the unfolding events at home.