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Rabat — Two Moroccan activists, Aziz Ghali and Abdelazim Draoui, arrived back in Morocco on Sunday following their release by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) after participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza.
The two activists had taken part in the Sumud Flotilla, which is an international peaceful mission that aimed to break Israel’s long-standing blockade on Gaza.
Ten days ago, Israeli naval forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters and detained several participants. Israel attacked and seized the vessels, and then proceeded to illegally arrest over 200 participants from 37 countries, according to activists’ reports.
Among the arrested were five Moroccans, including Ghali and Draoui, who pre-recorded videos that were posted after their arrest. The other three Moroccans were released earlier this month.
Reports indicated that Moroccan diplomatic officials worked intensively to secure their release through the country’s liaison office in Tel Aviv. The last also coordinated efforts with Turkish and international diplomatic contacts to obtain the activists’ freedom.
The Moroccan Front for Palestine Support and Against Normalization organized a public reception to welcome the two activists at Casablanca’s Mohamed V International Airport.
The welcome drew a large crowd of supporters.
In a statement, the front said that “this moment represents our loyalty to the struggle for freedom, dignity, and the right to life,” calling on citizens to attend the welcome event.
The detention sparked a nationwide solidarity campaign across several Moroccan cities over the previous days.
Human rights activists and civil society organizations urged the Moroccan government to intervene, describing the activists’ participation in the flotilla as a solidarity stance that reflects the Moroccan people’s ongoing support for the Palestinian cause.
The release came after sustained pressure from both official channels and civil society. The activists had joined an international delegation aboard the aid convoy before Israeli naval forces stopped the mission at sea.
