Benkirane Calls for Morocco to Cancel Mawazine Festival in Support of Gaza

In a stirring video address on Wednesday, Abdelilah Benkirane, the Secretary General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), passionately urged Morocco to take a bold stance in solidarity with Palestine by canceling the highly anticipated Mawazine festival. The festival, scheduled for next month, is set to feature A-list celebrities, including Nicki Minaj and Calvin Harris.

Benkirane's plea comes amidst Israel's devastating war targeting civilians in Gaza, resulting in numerous casualties and widespread destruction. He expressed deep concern over the inadequate support extended to Palestinians during this critical time, lamenting the calmness of Moroccan and Arab universities compared to the vigorous protests witnessed on international campuses.

"This situation is not honorable for us as an Arab and Islamic nation," Benkirane stated with evident distress, underscoring the ongoing massacres committed against Palestinians in Gaza.

Drawing a sharp contrast between the West's solidarity with Palestine and the Arab world's response, Benkirane argued that canceling the Mawazine festival would lend greater credibility to Morocco's repeated expressions of support for the Palestinian cause. He portrayed the protesters in the West as "civilized" and described their continued show of solidarity as a "dignified movement for humanity" that has significantly shifted the global conversation about Palestine, much to the dismay of Israeli propaganda.

According to the PJD's statement, Benkirane highlighted the growing condemnation of Israel's actions by international public opinion, citing three European countries' recent decision to recognize the Palestinian state as a "very good and significant shift."

Benkirane's impassioned plea echoes the PJD's longstanding calls for Morocco to reconsider its normalization of relations with Israel. Last November, the party urged Morocco to sever all ties with Israel by closing the Israeli liaison office in Rabat and expelling all Israeli representatives from Moroccan territory.

As the situation in Gaza continues to escalate, Benkirane's fervent appeal represents a powerful voice demanding tangible action from Morocco in solidarity with the Palestinian people.