Tens of Thousands Gather in Casablanca and Tangier in Support of Palestinians and Opposition to Normalization Policies
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- In a massive show of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza and in rejection of the normalization of ties with the Zionist entity, tens of thousands of Moroccans took to the streets on Sunday. Demonstrations unfolded in the cities of Casablanca and Tangier, reflecting the public’s strong stance against the recent diplomatic ties established between Morocco and the Zionist entity.
While organizers estimated the crowd to be in the tens of thousands, authorities did not provide an official figure.
Protesters chanted slogans such as “The Moroccan people, with the flood of Al-Aqsa,” “The people want to overthrow normalization,” and “The people want the liberation of Palestine.” The demonstrations emphasized the need to reconsider the normalization agreements with the Zionist entity.
The march featured various activities, including the burning of the Zionist flag and the symbolic display of shrouds bearing marks of blood for children, symbolizing those who lost their lives in Zionist airstrikes on Gaza.
The demonstrations came as the war between the Zionist entity and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Palestinian territories continues, resulting in the death of nearly 15,000 Palestinians, including over 6,000 children, according to Hamas authorities.
Sion Assidon, a Moroccan Jewish human rights activist, remarked on the protests, stating, “Today’s demonstrators came to celebrate, first of all, the Palestinian victory. The resistance imposed its agenda on the Zionist enemy.” He emphasized that the resilience of the Palestinian resistance sent a powerful message to the world.
He added, “The repression and massacres witnessed in Gaza shook the European and American streets, making them break their silence and demonstrate in solidarity with Palestine. This, in turn, exerted pressure on European and American leaders.”
Djamel Asri, the national coordinator of the Moroccan Front to Support Palestine, one of the organizers of the protests, stated, “The protests today in Casablanca and Tangier, while being prohibited in Agadir, came to convey three messages. First, celebrating the victory of the resistance as it broke the myth of the ‘invincible army.'”
Asri continued, “The second message is the call for continued solidarity beyond mere protests. The Palestinians need real material support amid the destruction in the Gaza Strip, taking care of widows, orphans, and rebuilding infrastructure. As Moroccans, we declare our readiness to provide all forms of solidarity with Gaza.”
The third message, according to Asri, is a protest against the United States and other colonial powers that continue to support the Zionist entity. He highlighted the objection to the silence of the international community in the face of unprecedented destruction and war crimes.
The demonstrations also voiced opposition to the Moroccan government’s recognition of the criminal entity in December 2020, with protesters rejecting any form of normalization with the terrorist regime. The public sentiment expressed during the protests reflects the concerns of many Moroccans about the recent diplomatic developments and their desire to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
