Widespread protests against Morocco’s normalization of relations with Israel have escalated into direct action at the country’s strategic ports, reflecting a growing disconnect between state policy and public sentiment. Demonstrators, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans like “Reject the ship,” have rallied against vessels transporting U.S.-manufactured military equipment destined for Israel, accusing the government of complicity in the Gaza conflict.
One key flashpoint is Morocco’s cooperation with the U.S. under the Security Cooperation Participant Program, through which military components—such as those used in the F-35 fighter jet—are shipped by firms like Maersk, the Danish logistics giant. Activists allege that Moroccan ports are facilitating the transit of these materials to Israel, making them complicit in the ongoing war in Gaza.
Among the most prominent voices in the protest movement is Ismail Lghazaoui, a 34-year-old agricultural engineer who was previously imprisoned for campaigning against arms shipments and criticizing Morocco’s diplomatic ties with Israel. Arrested in late 2023 after a post criticizing Maersk and the Moroccan government, Lghazaoui served two months in prison and two on parole after his initial one-year sentence was reduced.
Despite his incarceration, Lghazaoui returned to the streets in March 2025, joining renewed protests in Casablanca. He recounted how police beat demonstrators, including himself, during a November 2023 rally aimed at the U.S. Consulate. “They try to silence people,” he told the Associated Press. “They were using me to dissuade people or to push people away.”
Protests have intensified as the Israel-Gaza war continues, with Moroccan civil society groups accusing the government of ignoring overwhelming public opposition to normalization. More than a dozen activists have faced legal action since 2020, when Morocco re-established relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, in return for U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Inspired by similar actions in Spain, where authorities have blocked arms shipments, Moroccan activists are now calling on port workers and unions to refuse to process cargo linked to Israel.
The government, meanwhile, has remained largely silent on the port protests, emphasizing the strategic and economic benefits of its foreign policy alignment. Analysts warn that the widening gulf between Morocco’s leadership and its citizens could destabilize domestic politics, particularly if the Gaza conflict escalates. As tensions grow, activists like Lghazaoui say they won’t back down. “We are defending the values of justice and dignity,” he said. “And we won’t be intimidated.”
