Morocco’s Strategic Ports Become a Battleground for Pro-Palestine Activists
More than a year has passed since Morocco’s decision to normalize ties with Israel, but the move continues to spark widespread outrage. The fury has now spilled into the country’s strategic ports, where activists are urging officials to block ships carrying military cargo to Israel. At the forefront of this movement is 34-year-old agricultural engineer Ismail Lghazaoui, who recently joined protests at a port, marching through a sea of Palestinian flags and signs that read "Reject the ship." The vessel in question was transporting fighter jet components from Houston, Texas, highlighting the complex web of international interests at play.
The protests, which often target Danish shipping company Maersk, are part of a broader campaign to pressure Moroccan authorities into rethinking their ties with Israel. Maersk’s role in transporting components used to make Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jets has made it a prime target for activists. The company’s involvement in the U.S. Defense Department’s Security Cooperative Participant Program, which facilitates weapons sales to allies including Israel, has only added fuel to the fire. The situation is reminiscent of Spain’s actions last year, where similar protests led to the blocking of ships carrying military cargo to Israel.
Lghazaoui’s own experiences serve as a testament to the government’s crackdown on dissenting voices. A similar boycott campaign landed him in prison last year, but his release has not deterred him from continuing to speak out. In fact, he is one of over a dozen activists being pursued by Moroccan authorities for criticizing the government’s ties with Israel. During a rally in November, Lghazaoui was beaten by plainclothes officers while trying to advance towards the U.S. Consulate. His subsequent social media posts about Maersk led to his arrest and a charge of incitement, for which he served two months in prison and two on parole.
"It’s clear that they’re trying to silence people," Lghazaoui told The Associated Press. "They’re using me as an example to dissuade others or push them away." His words underscore the widening gap between the government’s decisions and the sentiments of the governed. As the protests continue to gain momentum, it remains to be seen how Moroccan authorities will respond to the growing pressure. One thing is certain, however: the country’s strategic ports have become a battleground for pro-Palestine activists, and the world is watching. The international community, including those in Africa and beyond, will be closely monitoring the situation, as the fallout from Morocco’s decision to normalize ties with Israel continues to reverberate globally.
