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Morocco BDS activist in court for 'inciting' Israel blockade

Morocco BDS activist faces court for 'inciting' blockade on shipments to Israel
MENA
3 min read
09 December, 2024
Since October, the global BDS movement has raised concerns about the Danish Maersk fleet's involvement in transporting US military supplies to Israel.
Thirteen other pro-Palestine activists are currently facing trial for attempting to blockade a Carrefour supermarket. [Getty]

In Morocco, a Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) activist is on trial after urging a public blockade against the docking of ships suspected of carrying military supplies to Israel. According to the group, more such ships have docked since his arrest.

Ismail Lghazaoui, 34, was detained on 19 November in Casablanca after publicly condemning the arrival of two Maersk cargo ships at Tangier Port, which were suspected of transporting military equipment to Israel.

Following his arrest, Lghazaoui was denied bail by a Casablanca court, which ordered he remains in custody. His trial has been postponed twice, but his family and supporters are hopeful he will be released during the next hearing on Tuesday, 10 December.

"We call for Ismail's immediate release. (...) His arrest is an attempt to criminalise demanding an end to genocide and to silence anti-normalisation activists", BDS Morocco said in a statement.

Lghazaoui faces charges under Article 1-299 of the Moroccan Penal Code, which penalises incitement to violence through public speeches, writings, or electronic communication. If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison and a fine of $5,000.

In videos and public statements, Lghazaoui and fellow BDS activists called on port workers and the public to block the ships from docking.

While the protests were limited, BDS Morocco told °®Âþµº that some port workers in Tangier refused to unload the ships following the activists' calls.

The group further alleges that workers who refused to unload such shipments have faced "mistreatment by both Maersk and Tangier Port authorities."

Attempts by TNA to seek clarification from Tangier Med Port and Maersk went unanswered at the time of publication.

Allegation of multiple ships

Maersk has repeatedly denied carrying any weapons or ammunition. "With regard to Gaza/Palestine, we also strongly reiterate that we do not support the violence taking place there and are horrified by the humanitarian catastrophes in this conflict," they wrote in June.

The port has also refrained from making any public statements about allegations that six Maersk-owned ships, suspected of carrying military cargo to Israel, have docked there.

Since October, the global BDS movement has raised concerns about the Danish Maersk fleet's involvement in transporting US military supplies to Israel, potentially in violation of international law. These claims are based on an investigation by the Palestinian Youth Movement, which Spain cited when banning Maersk ships from its ports in November.

Between 8 November and early December, six Maersk ships docked at Tangier Port. Of these, only one listed Israel as its final destination, while the others were primarily bound for Oman. Over the weekend, a seventh ship docked in Casablanca, but its final destination has yet to be confirmed due to an inactive AIS signal.

Morocco normalised relations with Israel in late 2020 under US mediation. Since then, the two countries have cooperated in various fields, including training. However, since the outbreak of the Gaza war, Rabat has condemned Israel's military offensive, calling for an immediate ceasefire and a two-state solution.

Despite this, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita has defended the country's decision to maintain ties with Israel, arguing that normalisation does not imply endorsement of Israeli policies.

Although Morocco has generally allowed public protests against Israel, authorities, on several occasions, have banned demonstrations near the French and US embassies and have used force to disperse protests outside Carrefour stores, according to pro-Palestinian groups.

Thirteen other activists are currently facing trial for attempting to blockade a Carrefour supermarket, a target of BDS campaigns for its links to Israeli companies operating in settlements. Unlike Lghazaoui, they have been released pending trial.

MENA
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