A growing number of Israelis, particularly second-generation immigrants of Moroccan descent, are relocating to Morocco, fleeing Israel’s war on Gaza, Ynetnews reported.
The movement remains scattered and informal, encompassing artists, businesspeople, single mothers, and religiously diverse families.
Neta Hazan, who acquired Moroccan citizenship despite receiving an ID listing her birthplace as “Al-Quds, Palestine,” told Ynetnews, “You can’t ruin this moment. I’ve fulfilled a dream, I’m a Moroccan citizen.”
Others like journalist Chen Elmaliach described Morocco as a return to heritage: “Being Moroccan never left me.”
According to Ynetnews, migration began even before the 2020 Abraham Accords, with some initially exploiting dual nationality to avoid legal troubles.
Stricter vetting now targets such loopholes, but many still pursue Moroccan documentation out of cultural affinity.
The war on Gaza accelerated doubts. Comedian Pini Peretz, who resides in Marrakech, said hostility increased, with a Palestinian flag once draped over his car post-performance.
Still, he added, “I feel safe, speaking Moroccan Arabic and handling tensions.”
Actor Yair Portal, who splits time between Marrakech and Israel, echoed the pull of Moroccan culture, saying, “There’s a shared feeling—time stands still, blending old and new.”
Yifrach, of the Jewish cultural group Kulna, recalled a multi-faith prayer in Tangier, where imams and priests joined a Jewish service: “It was a gesture of unity at a tense time.”
Morocco today hosts around a few thousand Jews, down from 270,000 pre-1948.
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