Rabat – Thousands of Moroccans gathered in Rabat on Saturday morning for a large-scale protest condemning the recent Israeli assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, as well as Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.
Donning the Palestinian Keffiyeh, protestors marched from the Medina toward the parliament as they chanted pro-Palestine slogans and called for an end to diplomatic relations with Israel.
They chanted slogans such as, “Leader Ismail said, our stance will not shift; even if the world bows, we’ll never recognize Israel.”
The crowd also echoed “Ismail left his will: no concession on our cause,” emphasizing their commitment to the Palestinian cause.
Protestors also paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the cause, chanting “Glory to the martyrs.”
Carrying Palestinian flags and banners with Haniyeh’s pictures, the crowd voiced their outrage over the Hamas leader’s assassination and the broader Israeli military aggressions in Gaza.
Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, entering its 11th month, has claimed the lives of at least 39,550 Palestinians and injured 91,280 others, the battered enclave’s health ministry announced today.
They further voiced their support for the Palestinian cause and emphasized their solidarity with the people of Gaza. “Whether today or tomorrow, freedom is a must,” they chanted.
The protesters also made a significant political demand, urging the Moroccan government to sever diplomatic ties with Israel in response to the ongoing aggression and the assassination of a key Palestinian figure.
Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli attack in Iran earlier this week. He was targeted while in Tehran, where he was attending the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian. The attack also resulted in the death of Haniyeh’s bodyguard.
Ismail Haniyeh was a prominent Palestinian political and military leader, known for his role as the head of Hamas’s political bureau.
Born in Gaza City in 1963, Haniyeh was a significant figure in Palestinian politics. He served as the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority from 2006 to 2007 before Hamas took control of Gaza.
Haniyeh was involved in various peace negotiations and was a key leader in the ongoing war. His leadership in Hamas extended to both its political and military activities, and he was a central figure in the organization’s strategy and operations in Gaza.
He was also heavily involved in the ongoing ceasefire talks with Israel, with mediators like Qatar arguing that his assassination undermines peace efforts.
“Israel’s reckless behavior and the assassination of a key negotiator make the continuation of mediation efforts seem futile,” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The protest in Rabat is part of a larger wave of demonstrations across the Arab and Muslim world condemning Israeli actions and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.
