What started as a workers’ rights march in Rabat quickly turned into a fiery condemnation of Morocco’s ties with Israel — here’s why thousands flooded the streets.
Thousands of Moroccan workers took over Rabat’s boulevards on May Day, transforming a traditional labor protest into a powerful demonstration against Israel’s war on Gaza and Morocco’s normalization deal. While demands for fair wages and job security led the march, Palestinian flags and chants for resistance dominated the scene. Banners reading “No to Normalization” and “Workers Support Gaza” waved above the crowd, alongside harrowing images of Israeli airstrike victims. The protest underscored a growing public backlash against Rabat’s diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv, as unions vowed to keep fighting for Palestinian liberation.
The National Union of Workers in Morocco (UNTM) made their stance clear, with Deputy Secretary General Abdelilah Dahman condemning Israel’s “systematic genocide” in Gaza. “We reject normalization and stand with the Palestinian resistance,” he declared, echoing sentiments shared by many in the crowd. Even members of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), which once backed the 2020 normalization agreement, now distanced themselves, calling for “the full liberation of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital.” The shift highlights how deeply public opinion has turned against Israel amid its devastating war.
But the protest wasn’t just about foreign policy — workers also raged against Morocco’s domestic crises. Rising living costs, shrinking civil liberties, and a controversial new strike law (draft 97.15) fueled the anger. Some demonstrators marched in symbolic shackles, their mouths taped shut, holding portraits of jailed journalists and activists. Others carried signs reading “An Oppressed Moroccan Citizen,” a stark reminder of the government’s tightening grip on dissent. Despite a heavy police presence, the march remained peaceful, driven by drumbeats and chants against repression.
The labor movement’s solidarity with Palestine isn’t new. Last month, Moroccan port workers attempted to block ships allegedly carrying US military supplies to Israel, a move celebrated by the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. Though the ships eventually docked, the action proved that unions are willing to disrupt business as usual to oppose Israel’s war machine. This growing alliance between labor rights and anti-normalization activism signals a potential political reckoning for Morocco’s government.
Historically, Moroccan unions have been a force for change — from the 1980s Casablanca bread riots to the 2011 Arab Spring protests. Now, with negotiations between the government and unions stalling, tensions are reaching a boiling point. The North Africa Center for Studies warns that labor relations are nearing another breaking point. If Rabat ignores workers’ demands, it risks reigniting mass unrest.
As one unionist, Khaled Satti, put it: “We’re here to stand against injustice from Morocco to Palestine.” The May Day protests proved that for Moroccan workers, the fight for economic justice and the fight against normalization are one and the same — and they won’t back down.
Thousands of Moroccan workers took over Rabat’s boulevards on May Day, transforming a traditional labor protest into a powerful demonstration against Israel’s war on Gaza and Morocco’s normalization deal. While demands for fair wages and job security led the march, Palestinian flags and chants for resistance dominated the scene. Banners reading “No to Normalization” and “Workers Support Gaza” waved above the crowd, alongside harrowing images of Israeli airstrike victims. The protest underscored a growing public backlash against Rabat’s diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv, as unions vowed to keep fighting for Palestinian liberation.
The National Union of Workers in Morocco (UNTM) made their stance clear, with Deputy Secretary General Abdelilah Dahman condemning Israel’s “systematic genocide” in Gaza. “We reject normalization and stand with the Palestinian resistance,” he declared, echoing sentiments shared by many in the crowd. Even members of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), which once backed the 2020 normalization agreement, now distanced themselves, calling for “the full liberation of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital.” The shift highlights how deeply public opinion has turned against Israel amid its devastating war.
But the protest wasn’t just about foreign policy — workers also raged against Morocco’s domestic crises. Rising living costs, shrinking civil liberties, and a controversial new strike law (draft 97.15) fueled the anger. Some demonstrators marched in symbolic shackles, their mouths taped shut, holding portraits of jailed journalists and activists. Others carried signs reading “An Oppressed Moroccan Citizen,” a stark reminder of the government’s tightening grip on dissent. Despite a heavy police presence, the march remained peaceful, driven by drumbeats and chants against repression.
The labor movement’s solidarity with Palestine isn’t new. Last month, Moroccan port workers attempted to block ships allegedly carrying US military supplies to Israel, a move celebrated by the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. Though the ships eventually docked, the action proved that unions are willing to disrupt business as usual to oppose Israel’s war machine. This growing alliance between labor rights and anti-normalization activism signals a potential political reckoning for Morocco’s government.
Historically, Moroccan unions have been a force for change — from the 1980s Casablanca bread riots to the 2011 Arab Spring protests. Now, with negotiations between the government and unions stalling, tensions are reaching a boiling point. The North Africa Center for Studies warns that labor relations are nearing another breaking point. If Rabat ignores workers’ demands, it risks reigniting mass unrest.
As one unionist, Khaled Satti, put it: “We’re here to stand against injustice from Morocco to Palestine.” The May Day protests proved that for Moroccan workers, the fight for economic justice and the fight against normalization are one and the same — and they won’t back down.
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