Join on WhatsApp 
Join on Telegram Rabat – Morocco’s reception of senior Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh signifies Rabat’s independence of thought and opinion, despite its normalization agreement with Israel.
As part of Haniyeh’s visit to Morocco this week, the official met with both Morocco’s House of Representatives speaker Habib El Malki, as well as the House of Councillors speaker Hakim Benchamach.
Separately, the senior Hamas official met with Morocco’s Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani on June 16, following ongoing communication throughout the 11-day war between Hamas leadership and El Othmani. The Moroccan Head of Government lauded “the victory of the Palestinian people and their strong resistance against the Zionist entity.”
Haniyeh’s visit comes parallel to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI’s message of congratulations to the newly elected Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Critics have taken to social media to use the gesture to detract from Morocco’s continuous support for the Palestinian cause, insinuating that these are signs of a coming betrayal.
Read also: Morocco’s History of Securing Humanitarian Aid for Palestine
But the fact remains that the resumption of ties between Morocco and Israel can serve in Rabat’s favor, without being detrimental to Morocco’s stance on the Palestine-Israel conflict. A government that was under the thumb of Israeli interests, looking to appease their new partner, would not be receiving a senior official of Hamas, the democratically elected governing party of Gaza, which organizationIsrael has designated as a “terrorist organization.”
Despite Israel’s often heavy handed approach, backed by US’ support, Morocco has maintained its political independence, emphasizing its dedication to supporting the Palestinian people and their cause. Morocco sent 80 tonnes of humanitarian aid supplies to Palestine during the 11-day long Israeli assault on Gaza in May.
Rabat will likely continue to navigate the fraught landscape of the Israel-Palestine conflict. It appears Moroccan officials are balancing leveraging its developmental and economic benefits of its new partnership, while championing its moral stance on the Palestinian cause.
