More than a year after Morocco normalized ties with Israel, tensions are boiling over as activists intensify their protests, challenging what they see as a betrayal of public sentiment by the state.
The recent unrest has spilled into Morocco’s strategic ports, igniting fresh waves of civil resistance.
In the midst of shipping cranes and stacked freight, 34-year-old agricultural engineer Ismail Lghazaoui marched through a tide of Palestinian flags, shouting slogans and waving a sign that read “Reject the ship.” The ship in question was believed to be transporting fighter jet components from Houston, Texas.
Moroccan protesters are now calling on port authorities to follow Spain’s example and block vessels carrying military cargo bound for Israel. Demonstrations often target the Danish shipping giant Maersk, which helps transport components used in Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jets. The parts are sent through the U.S. Defense Department’s Security Cooperative Participant Program, which enables arms deals with allies, including Israel.
Lghazaoui, who was imprisoned last year for his activism, has become a key figure in the protests. Despite being arrested and charged with incitement for posting about Maersk, he returned to the streets soon after his release.
“They try to silence people. They were using me to dissuade people or to push people away from what they were doing.”
Ismail Lghazaoui
Morocco was one of four Arab countries that normalized relations with Israel in 2020 through the Abraham Accords, brokered by President Donald Trump. In exchange, the U.S. recognized Morocco’s claims over Western Sahara, a long-disputed region.
While Moroccan diplomats celebrated the diplomatic coup, resentment among the public has steadily grown, especially since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. “I’ve rarely seen such a chasm between public opinion and the monarchy,” said Aboubakr Jamai, dean of the Madrid Center at the American College of the Mediterranean. “What the power elites are doing goes completely against what the Moroccan people want.”
Since the war began, tens of thousands have taken to Morocco’s streets. The demonstrators, a mix of students, families, unionists, Islamists, and leftists, have also included more radical voices who have torched Israeli flags and criticized royal adviser André Azoulay, a Jewish Moroccan.
While riot police have largely stood by during protests, the Moroccan government has drawn a clear line. The country’s constitution permits free expression, but criticism of the monarchy or King Mohammed VI is a criminal offense. Several activists have received prison sentences for directing their dissent at the monarchy or for boycotting companies with Israeli links.
The pattern reflects similar crackdowns in Egypt and Jordan, where leaders have walked a diplomatic tightrope between public sympathy for Palestinians and official relations with Israel. But unlike in those nations, Morocco’s arrests appear to be inflaming public anger rather than suppressing it.
Ports Emerge As Protesting Grounds
In recent weeks, Morocco’s ports have become a new front in the growing movement. Activists and workers have called for the government to stop two transatlantic ships believed to be carrying fighter jet components destined for Israel.
Momentum surged when the country’s largest labor union endorsed the protest, and prominent religious scholars, many associated with the anti-monarchy Islamist group Al Adl wal Ihsan, issued an edict demanding that the ships be barred from entry.
Though officially banned from politics, Al Adl wal Ihsan has played a major role in rallying pro-Palestinian sentiment during the conflict. The group claims that on a recent Friday alone, Moroccans joined 110 demonstrations across 66 cities in support of Gaza.
On April 20, unionists and Al Adl wal Ihsan members marched near port sites in Tangier and Casablanca as the ships docked. Maersk later confirmed the vessels carried fighter jet parts, but denied knowingly transporting weapons to active conflict zones. The company stated that it requires end-use certificates to verify the final destination of military cargo.
Amid the protests, Moroccan social media has seen renewed attention on longstanding domestic issues. Some nationalist voices have used the spotlight on Gaza to refocus attention on the marginalization of the Indigenous Amazigh population and the unresolved question of Western Sahara.
The conflict has also forced political repositioning. The Islamist Justice and Development Party, which once supported normalization while in power, recently extended an invitation to senior Hamas leaders to attend its congress in Rabat. The leaders were unable to secure visas.
“Palestine will remain our primary cause,” said Abdelilah Benkirane, former prime minister and party secretary general.
As such, Morocco’s deepening political rift over its alignment with Israel reveals tensions not easily patched by foreign policy wins.
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