Morocco Honors Palestine's Martyrs in a Powerful Show of Solidarity

In a display of solidarity with the Palestinian cause in all its facets and developments, the announcement of the martyrdom of Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas' military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and several of his comrades sparked reactions across Morocco. 

In some cities, prayers were held for the deceased, accompanied by discussions on the timing of the event and its political and religious implications.

On January 30, 2025, the al-Qassam Brigades, in a filmed statement by their spokesman Abu Obeida, confirmed the death of Deif and six members of their military council during the massacre perpetrated by “Israel” in the Gaza Strip.

A Heroic Resistance

The National Moroccan Working Group for Palestine expressed its pride and honor upon receiving the news of the martyrdom of several senior leaders of the al-Qassam Brigades, including the revered commander Mohammed Deif.

In a message of condolence sent to Hamas on January 31, the group stated, “The path carved by these great leaders will remain filled with dedication and sacrifice, continuing to inspire the Palestinian people to pursue the struggle until all of Palestine is liberated, from the river to the sea.”

“The blood of thousands of children and women, mingled with the blood of the righteous leaders in the Operation al-Aqsa Flood, is a testament to the powerful bond between valiant resistance and a popular base that has offered everything for freedom and independence.”

“Historic achievement of these great leaders, beginning with the glorious October 7th, followed by the heroic resilience of 15 months, culminated in breaking the arrogance of the Zionist enemy and forcing them into a prisoner exchange—rare scenes that restored some dignity to our nation, which had been squandered by the Arab official submission, and frustrated the occupation entity, which tasted the bitterness of military and psychological defeat.”

"None of this would have been possible without the relentless efforts of the martyr commanders in building a resilient resistance, marked by martyrdom and the disregard for bloodshed in the pursuit of a free Palestine, from the river to the sea," the group noted.

Meanwhile, the Moroccan Committee for Supporting the Nation’s Causes extended its condolences to Hamas, following the martyrdom of Deif.

In their message of condolence, the committee wrote, “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Palestinian people, to the Islamic Resistance Movement, and to all the factions, especially, for the martyrdom of the heroic leader Deif and the other martyrs of the movement’s courageous leaders."

They acknowledged that the leaders "fell in the field of jihad during the glorious Operation al-Aqsa Flood" and prayed to God for "mercy and forgiveness for the martyrs on the path of liberation, and patience and solace for their families and loved ones."

Likewise, “the Justice and Spirituality Movement of Morocco” (JSM) sent its deepest condolences to “Hamas, the heroic Palestinian people, the families of the martyrs, and to the entire Arab and Islamic nation for the loss of this inspiring leader and these martyrs.”

In a statement published on February 1, the movement prayed to Almighty God to “replace these heroes in the Palestinian resistance with goodness and blessings, and to raise a generation even more determined, patient, and steadfast in the struggle, and to accept the martyrs in the highest ranks, alongside the prophets, the righteous, and the martyrs.”

Morocco Honors Deif

In a display of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, hundreds of Moroccans gathered on January 31, 2025, for a protest outside the parliament building in Rabat and in several other cities, condemning the assassination of senior Hamas commander Mohammed Deif.

Protesters, called by the "National Working Group for Palestine" (an NGO), held up images of al-Aqsa Mosque and Deif, alongside pictures of victims of the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

They waved Palestinian flags and carried placards bearing slogans such as "The Operation of al-Aqsa Flood continues until Palestine is liberated," "Loyalty to the Martyr Leader Mohammed Deif and his fellow commanders," and "A pledge to continue the flood until Palestine is freed and the occupying entity is defeated."

Chants echoed through the streets, including "Salute to the Martyr," and "From Morocco, a salute to the martyrs of the cause, Deif and Haniyeh."

Between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025, with U.S. support, the Israeli occupation carried out a genocidal campaign in Gaza that resulted in more than 159,000 Palestinian casualties, including both the dead and wounded, most of whom were women and children, and over 14,000 missing persons.

In Moroccan cities, prayers for the soul of Deif and the other martyrs of Hamas were held in mosques and streets adjacent to them. 

This came in response to a call from Hamas urging prayers for the martyrs after Friday prayers on January 31, in Palestine, and in mosques and Islamic centers worldwide.

Moroccan activist Zakaria Nouini noted that "there is an emotional, human, and doctrinal bond that drives Moroccans' ongoing solidarity with Palestine and its just cause."

He told Al-Estiklal that "the public reaction and the involvement of civil society with the martyrdom of Mohammed Deif is due to several reasons, most notably his symbolic status in resistance, his steadfastness despite repeated assassination attempts, which made him an icon of resistance, earning him global respect – even the Japanese have dubbed him the 'Samurai of the Arabs.'"

"The timing of the announcement and the secrecy surrounding his assassination brought a sense of reassurance, reflecting the success of the resistance strategy in managing the Israeli war and their determination despite months of bombing and genocide," Nouini noted.

Resilience of Resistance

In a post on Facebook on January 31, 2025, Reda Boukmazi, a member of the executive office of the Justice and Development Party, emphasized that Hamas has proven its ability to present its leaders before its fighters, showcasing its continuity even before announcing the martyrdom of its members. 

"Hamas has demonstrated to the world that it is a thriving movement, constantly playing a central role in the resistance, built on a vision and project, not on individuals. Even when they step down from their leadership roles, the movement remains unaffected and undeterred," Boukmazi said.

He continued, “Hamas has managed to break the arrogance of a criminal entity, forcing it to bow despite the vast disparity in power,” adding that it has succeeded in embedding the cause of Palestinian liberation deep within the hearts of the free people of the world, keeping it alive in their souls.

Boukmazi concluded, “You have won, great ones, and by God, your appointment is in paradise. You asked, and you received. And God willing, when one leader falls, another rises. In truth, behind them is a generation of leaders."

Meanwhile, Moroccan human rights activist Hassan Bennajeh stated that "the martyrdom of Commander Deif and several other Hamas leaders is an earthquake that strikes the occupying entity and reaffirms the resilience of the resistance."

In a post on Facebook, Bennajeh emphasized that "the announcement of this news is a major blow to the occupying force, comparable in its scale and impact to the October 7, 2023, flood." 

"By revealing the news months after keeping it a secret, Hamas exposed the confusion within the occupation, while simultaneously proving that the resistance is a deeply rooted movement that cannot be broken by the martyrdom of its leaders."

“The key message of this event for the Palestinian people is that their blood is one, and there is no distinction between the leaders and the masses. It is the blending of this pure blood from all walks of life that creates the epic struggle, unity, strength, victory, and ultimate liberation,” Bennajeh added.

“This is a major intelligence strike against the occupation, which believed that by assassinating Commander Deif, it would achieve a strategic victory and disrupt the structure of the brigades. However, it was shocking to find that Hamas managed to keep the news under wraps for months,”Bennajeh noted.

"This represents a remarkable intelligence breakthrough for the resistance, which deprived the occupation of its psychological warfare element and thwarted its leaders' attempts to gain political and media victories that they view as symbols of success."

“The continuity of the resistance, even after the loss of key leaders, both in the field and politically, confirms that the leadership of Hamas is not individualistic, but institutional. The brigades and battalions operate within a cohesive system that does not cease with the targeting of its commanders.”

“The announcement was a psychological earthquake within the occupation, which had convinced itself and its supporters that the assassination of Deif would lead to the collapse of the resistance's structure. However, the continuation of operations and the escalation of military and political performance show that the enemy has lost the ability to deliver decisive blows, and instead finds itself powerless against a resilient military force.”

“This sends a message to the enemy that Hamas is stronger than they imagine. The ability of the resistance to achieve field and political successes even after the martyrdom of its leaders proves that the assassination of leaders does not mean the collapse of the jihadist project; instead, it provides additional momentum and pushes new generations to be even more creative and innovative in confronting the occupation.”

“Hamas’ decision to announce the martyrdom of Deif and other leaders at this specific time undermines the occupation's calculations and affirms that the decision to disclose this information lay with the resistance, not the enemy. This reflects the depth of planning and control over information.”

“The martyrdom of these leaders, while harsh, has not weakened the resistance. On the contrary, it has shown the world that the liberation project does not depend on any single individual; it is a flowing river that does not dry up, led by men, and when they fall, others take up the banner without hesitation.”

"With this announcement, the resistance sent a message to the world that its journey will not stop, and despite the assassinations, the occupation remains incapable of achieving any strategic victory that could alter the balance of the struggle," Bennajah concluded.