Israeli Media: Morocco to Purchase Spy Satellites from Israeli Company in Alleged $1 Billion Deal

Marrakech – According to reports from Israeli media outlets, Morocco is allegedly set to purchase two advanced spy satellites from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in a deal worth approximately $1 billion.

The Jerusalem Post, Ynetnews, and CTech have all reported on this alleged agreement, which is said to span around five years.

The Jerusalem Post suggests that Morocco will acquire two satellites from IAI’s OPTSAT-3000 series, which are purportedly used for reconnaissance by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

However, according to Reuters, the satellite Morocco is set to acquire is the Ofek 13 spy satellite, the same one that some media reports said Morocco and Israel agreed on at the end of 2023, with the deal being signed in recent days.

These new satellites are expected to replace Morocco’s older ones, previously acquired from a consortium of French, Italian, and German companies, which reportedly have lower resolution capabilities.

IAI Chairman Amir Peretz is said to have played a significant role in securing this deal, as well as a previous $500 million agreement for the Barak 8 air defense system, due to his connections in Morocco.

Peretz allegedly flew to Morocco via a European country in recent days to finalize the satellite deal, which had been kept secret until now.

While IAI reported signing a contract with an undisclosed “third party” to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, the company did not provide details about the nature of the agreement or confirm the alleged satellite deal with Morocco.

In response to inquiries, IAI stated that it “does not comment on reports about its transactions and does not provide information about trips made by the chairman.”

It is important to note that these reports come from Israeli media and have not been officially confirmed by Moroccan authorities.

The news of the alleged deal has sparked concerns among Moroccans, given Israel’s ongoing massacres on Gaza and Morocco’s long-standing support for the Palestinian cause.

Morocco has frequently expressed solidarity with Palestinians and called for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire to the devastating war on civilians in Gaza.

The kingdom has also sent humanitarian aid to the Gaza population to help mitigate the crisis, with King Mohammed VI ordering the deployment of 40 tons of medical supplies by land on June 24.

As the offensive continues, a harrowing report from the renowned British journal The Lancet has raised alarm over the potential death toll in Gaza, estimating it could exceed 186,000.

The Lancet emphasizes that the current reported death toll of 38,000 is likely underrepresented, as it excludes those trapped under rubble and the countless deaths resulting from the destruction of essential services.

The Moroccan people’s solidarity with Palestinians remains strong, and opposition to country’s the diplomatic relationship with Israel has intensified over the past nine months of Israel’s onslaught, despite limited resistance prior to the beginning of the conflict on October 7.