Morocco and the Palestinian Question: Between Official Discourse and Strategic Realities

In recent times, the Palestinian issue has once again taken center stage on the international scene, amidst an intensification of Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, accompanied by political and diplomatic maneuvers behind the scenes. One of the most controversial issues is the claim that Morocco, under American pressure, has agreed to receive a number of Palestinian refugees from Gaza as part of a resettlement plan reportedly dating back to the Trump administration. Seen by many as an attempt to empty Gaza of its inhabitants in favor of Israeli interests, this initiative raises serious questions about Morocco’s true stance and its implications for the Palestinian cause and regional stability.

Morocco has long portrayed itself as a staunch defender of Palestine, leveraging the symbolism of its presidency of the Al-Quds Committee, affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, while boasting about its support for Palestinian rights. However, reality suggests a pragmatic approach, where the Palestinian cause appears to have been used as a tool to serve the regime’s political and strategic interests, both domestically and internationally.

Official Support vs. Contradictory Reality

Since its independence, the Moroccan monarchy has promoted its solidarity with the Palestinian people, but in practice, this support has remained largely symbolic. In fact, Morocco was among the first Arab countries to establish covert relations with Israel.

Secret ties between Rabat and Tel Aviv date back to the 1960s, notably through cooperation between Moroccan intelligence services and Mossad in the tracking and assassination of Moroccan opposition figure Mehdi Ben Barka in Paris in 1965. This event revealed, early on, the depth of secret alliances between Morocco and Israel.

Over the following decades, these relations continued to develop behind closed doors, encompassing security cooperation, intelligence sharing, and undisclosed trade agreements, while Morocco publicly maintained its pro-Palestinian rhetoric.

Morocco’s presidency of the Al-Quds Committee, which is supposed to protect Jerusalem, has had little tangible impact. It has failed to stop Israeli settlements, safeguard Al-Aqsa Mosque, or improve the living conditions of Jerusalem’s Palestinian residents. Many analysts argue that the committee has primarily served as a diplomatic tool to elevate Morocco’s regional influence, while, in reality, it has facilitated a gradual normalization with Israel.

In December 2020, Morocco officially abandoned all ambiguity by signing a normalization agreement with Israel under the Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States. In exchange, Washington recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, illustrating how the regime prioritizes geopolitical gains over broader Arab and Palestinian interests.

Since then, Moroccan-Israeli ties have expanded at an unprecedented pace, including agreements on defense, security, agriculture, and trade, joint military exercises, and the opening of official diplomatic missions. This rapid rapprochement has sparked public outrage, exposing the discrepancy between Morocco’s official discourse and its real political choices.

Hosting Gaza Refugees: Between Leaks and Fears

Unconfirmed media reports have suggested that Morocco is among the countries that have agreed to receive Palestinian refugees from Gaza, as part of a secret U.S. plan aimed at reducing pressure on Israel and gradually emptying the enclave of its population. This plan is believed to be a continuation of Trump-era proposals to dismantle the Palestinian issue by resettling refugees in various Arab countries.

If these reports are accurate, this would mark a significant shift in Morocco’s position, as the country has never previously been associated with initiatives promoting the resettlement of Palestinian refugees outside their homeland.

The Political Implications of Morocco’s Position

If Morocco were to accept such an initiative, it would raise several complex political dimensions:

1. U.S. Pressure
   Morocco’s strategic alliance with Washington exposes it to constant pressure, particularly regarding its support for American and Israeli interests in the region, in return for U.S. backing on Western Sahara.

2. Public Outrage in Morocco
   The Moroccan people have historically shown strong support for Palestine, with mass protests against Israeli aggression. Any move perceived as complicity in the forced displacement of Palestinians could trigger widespread anger and unrest.

3. Relations with the Arab World
   Morocco’s participation in a plan that could be seen as a Palestinian "transfer" project would put it in a difficult position with Arab nations, especially those opposed to liquidating the Palestinian cause.

Trump’s Plan and the Forced Displacement of Palestinians

As part of the "Deal of the Century", Trump’s administration sought to reshape the Middle East in a way that overwhelmingly favored Israel. This included:

• Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital
• Annexing parts of the West Bank
• Offering economic incentives to Palestinians and neighboring Arab countries

However, the most alarming aspect remains the possibility of forcibly relocating Gaza’s population to other Arab countries, such as Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco. Opponents argue that this would amount to erasing the Palestinian presence from its land, thereby eliminating the issue at its core.

Morocco’s Official Silence: A Worrying Sign

So far, Moroccan authorities have not issued a clear or categorical denial of these reports. This silence has fueled speculation, with some seeing it as a way to prepare public opinion, while others interpret it as an attempt to avoid media escalation until the situation becomes clearer.

Some analysts suggest that Morocco might accept a limited number of Palestinian refugees for humanitarian reasons, without necessarily being part of a structured displacement plan. However, this distinction has not been explicitly communicated by the Moroccan government.

Morocco’s Delicate Balancing Act

Morocco now faces a difficult balancing act:

• On one hand, it needs continued U.S. support for its Western Sahara claim.
• On the other, it must maintain its image as a champion of the Palestinian cause, which holds significant popular and political weight in the country.

Any involvement in a forced resettlement plan for Palestinians could seriously damage Morocco’s credibility and weaken its position as a trusted mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly given its role as the chair of the Al-Quds Committee.

Conclusion

The Palestinian cause has become a test for the true positions of Arab regimes, including Morocco. Between strategic interests and international pressures, the will of Arab peoples, particularly Moroccans, remains a key safeguard against any attempt to liquidate the Palestinian issue.

The coming months will reveal whether Morocco can maintain a balanced stance that protects its national interests while upholding its commitment to Palestine, or if it will yield to external pressures at the risk of damaging its reputation and credibility.