Morocco Strongly Condemns Israeli Strikes on Gaza, Calls for Immediate Ceasefire

Rabat, March 20, 2025, 9:45 AM PDT – Morocco has issued a robust condemnation of the recent Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, which have resulted in hundreds of deaths since Monday, according to a statement from Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita during a press conference on Thursday. The announcement, reported by MAP (Maghreb Arab Press) and shared on X by @MarocDiplo, reflects Morocco’s firm stance against the escalation, aligning with public sentiment and regional calls for peace.

Morocco’s Official Response

During the 1266th Ministerial Meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, Bourita described the Israeli attacks as “in the strongest terms,” emphasizing Morocco’s close monitoring of the escalating violence targeting civilians in Gaza. He labeled the strikes as contrary to efforts for regional peace, urging all stakeholders to work toward an “immediate ceasefire,” per Al Jazeera’s coverage. Posts on X, like @MoroccoPolitics’s, praised Rabat’s position, while @PalestineSupport noted its resonance with Arab and African solidarity.

Bourita’s statement, consistent with Morocco’s historical support for Palestinian statehood, underscores the Kingdom’s delicate balancing act—maintaining ties with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords while responding to domestic and regional pressure, as detailed in a 2024 Carnegie Endowment report on Moroccan foreign policy. Web results, including en.wikipedia.org’s entry on Bourita, highlight his role in navigating such tensions, including Morocco’s mediation in African and Middle Eastern conflicts.

Protests Across Moroccan Cities

On Tuesday evening, large-scale protests erupted in Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, and other cities to denounce the Israeli strikes, which killed at least 413 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, as reported on X by @GazaHealthMin. Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and held banners reading “Stop the genocide” or “Holocaust in Gaza,” chanting anti-normalization slogans and expressing solidarity with Palestinians, per videos shared on X by @MarocSolidarite and @MoroccoNewsLive.

The protests, peaceful but vocal, reflect public outrage despite Morocco’s diplomatic relations with Israel, per Middle East Monitor’s March 19 report. Posts on X, such as @TangierVoice’s, documented thousands gathering in Grand Socco, Tangier, while @CasablancaPulse showed crowds in Mohammed V Square, Casablanca, underscoring a disconnect between official policy and public sentiment.

Context of Israeli Strikes on Gaza

Israel intensified its operations in Gaza on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, launching its deadliest airstrikes since the January 19 ceasefire, following 15 months of war triggered by Hamas’s unprecedented October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed 1,218 people, mostly civilians, per AFP. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the strikes were “just the beginning,” vowing to continue until Hamas releases hostages, with 58 still held in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the Israeli military, as stated on X by @IDF.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported 970 additional deaths over 48 hours, raising the conflict’s toll to over 48,570, mostly civilians, per its Monday update before the latest strikes, shared on X by @HamasHealth. Israel, backed by the U.S., claims the escalation is “essential” for hostage release, while Hamas accuses Israel of sabotaging the truce, remaining open to indirect talks but reiterating demands for a permanent ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, and humanitarian aid access, per @HamasInfo on X.

Regional and International Reaction

Morocco’s condemnation aligns with widespread Arab and international criticism, including from Egypt, Turkey, Russia, and the UN, which called for de-escalation, per Anadolu Agency and UN News. The U.S., a key Israeli ally, urged restraint, with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz on X emphasizing diplomatic efforts, per The Washington Post. Posts on X, like @ArabVoice’s, highlight a unified regional stance, while @USStateDept reiterated support for Israel’s defense but stressed minimizing civilian harm.

Humanitarian Crisis and Ongoing Tensions

The airstrikes have deepened Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with families fleeing north Gaza amid rubble, carrying meager possessions, as shown in X videos by @UNRWA. Israel’s blockade, blocking humanitarian aid and cutting electricity, has left 2.4 million Palestinians in dire straits, per UNICEF’s March 2025 update on X. Morocco’s call for a ceasefire echoes global demands, but stalled talks—mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S.—leave the path to peace uncertain.

As of 9:45 AM PDT, no ceasefire is in sight, with Israel launching targeted ground operations and Hamas holding firm on its demands, risking further escalation.