Moroccans have strongly reacted to the head of Hamas’ political office abroad Khaled Meshaal’s call for pressuring the Moroccan leadership to backtrack normalization with Israel.
The #Moroccans_are_only_addressed_by_their_King hashtag has been trending on social media in Morocco for 48 hours, in response to Meshaal’s controversial speech.
During a solidarity event for Palestinians organized by the Unity and Reform Movement, Meshaal, who resides in Qatar, stated “I am addressing you in Morocco.”
The phrase was vehemently rejected by many Moroccan netizens, underlining that Moroccans can only be addressed by their King Mohammed VI.
The Palestinian leader called on the Moroccan masses, Islamic and national forces, and of all political stripes to “address the country’s leadership and demand a break of ties, reversal of normalization, and expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.”
Meshaal’s statements have ignited widespread anger and outrage among Moroccans, who perceive it as an overstepping of boundaries and interference in Moroccan sovereignty.
Moroccan netizens also urged Meshaal to criticize the policy of other countries that are at the forefront of normalization.
One X user stated, “Hamas is speaking directly to the Moroccan people, not to support the Palestinians or demand an end to the bombing of #Gaza, but to engage in geopolitics and political interference. The leader of Hamas calls for a revolt against the sovereign. In Morocco, only His Majesty the King can address and represent the people.”
Le Hamas s’adresse directement au peuple marocain, non pour soutenir les Palestiniens ou demander l’arrêt des bombardements sur #Gaza, mais pour faire de la géopolitique et de l’ingérence politique. Le chef du Hamas appelle à la révolte contre le souverain. Le soutien à la cause… pic.twitter.com/LF7GpaqLHi
— ?? MAROC DEFENDER (@Empirechrifien1) November 20, 2023
Another one said, “We listen to and support one speech, which is that of our beloved King. The important question remains: Why Morocco and not other nations?”
#المغاربة_لا_يخاطبهم_إلا_ملكهم
خطاب واحد نسمعه ونؤيده هو خطاب ملكنا محبوبنا
يبقى السؤال الاهم لماذا #المغرب وليس باقي الشعوب
خربتم سوريا اليمن العراق لبنان وتريدون تخريب المغرب والله تم والله لن تنالو ذالك نحن مع ملكنا ولا يخاطبنا غيره. #لنا_ملكنا_ولكم_شعوبكم pic.twitter.com/OphWesEiI4— Leɛyun ?? ۞ (@5_ersito) November 21, 2023
Another X user stated, “Your statement that we, as Moroccans, should address our leadership out of protectiveness for Morocco and protectiveness for its interests is considered a threatening message from Hamas that it could take actions against our interests in Morocco or the world.”
He continued, “The Kingdom of Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, severed relations with Israel in 2000 as a sovereign decision and restored them also as a sovereign decision.”
#المغاربة_لا_يخاطبهم_إلا_ملكهم ✊???✊?
المملكة المغربية لا تخضع للإبتزاز يا والتهديد يا خالد مشعل
كمغربي ومن ناحية إنسانية أتعاطف مع قضية فلسطين العادلة والفلسطنيين الأبرياء وحقهم في وطن يكفل لهم العيش بكرامة
ومن ناحية أخرى كيف تريدني أن أتعاطف مع قيادة حماس من خلالك يا خالد… pic.twitter.com/HG2FR1a8Y3
— Simo Ben (@Simo__Ben) November 20, 2023
Benkirane and his followers should be ashamed that they have given such a terrorist, coward and criminal the opportunity to belittle us, Moroccans. The PJD has proven that they are nothing more than traitors among us with a completely different agenda than ours as a government, a constitution, a people with a long history and an elected government and a king and an elected constitution. They are blinded by their desire for power, by abusing our young démocrate and our beliefs, values and norms. We won’t let that happen. Dima Maghrib w 3aachab L’malik.