Why has Morocco now reiterated support for a two-state solution?

As Western nations have gradually shifted their stance on Israel’s offensive in Gaza, moving from tacit support to open condemnation, the momentum toward formal recognition of a Palestinian state has grown. France and the UK are expected to take that leap at the Global Alliance international conference, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, from June 17–20, 2025. Amid this shifting geopolitical landscape, Morocco has reiterated its longstanding support for a two-state solution, not as a reaction to Western change, but as a signal that its commitment predates it.

At the 5th meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-organized by Morocco and the Netherlands in Rabat, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita sought to reaffirm Morocco’s position. His language was intentional, drawing a line between Morocco’s practical engagement and what he implied were Western platitudes: “Beyond condemnations and denunciations, Morocco is working concretely to bring positions closer toward a sustainable solution. Our country has always believed that there is no other solution than the coexistence of two states, Israeli and Palestinian, living side by side.”

Yet this rhetorical assertion masks Morocco’s increasingly delicate diplomatic position. Despite its official support for Palestinian statehood, Rabat has been noticeably reticent in directly condemning Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank, particularly since the turn of the year, when global opinion has begun to shift following widespread reports of war crimes and humanitarian violations by Israeli forces.

Speaking exclusively to Maghrebi, Sami Hamdi, Editor-in-Chief of The International Interest and experienced geopolitical risk consultant, challenged the idea that Morocco sees itself as a diplomatic bridge in the Israel-Palestine conflict. “Not at all. Morocco has little interest in engaging in the Israel-Palestine conflict and sees the matter as a marginal issue. The level of Morocco’s engagement directly corresponds with the pressure it feels from public anger over the issue,” he explained. In his view, Morocco’s actions are less about mediation and more about managing domestic optics.

The controversy surrounding Morocco’s decision to host the Golani Brigade, a notorious unit of the Israeli Defense Forces accused of targeting aid workers and paramedics in Gaza, during the African Lion military exercises has brought this tension to the fore. For many Moroccan citizens and political commentators, this was not just a diplomatic misstep, but a greater moral error.

Despite criticism, Rabat appears undeterred. Hamdi rejects the notion that normalisation with Israel has constrained Morocco’s ability to criticize Israeli military actions. “Morocco is wholeheartedly committed to the expansion of normalization and has signed multiple deals with Israel and openly engaged in military exercises despite the ongoing genocide. The issue is not that Morocco is constrained, but rather that the government has cast aside the Palestine issue in exchange for ties with Israel, and Washington by extension.”

Morocco’s quiet diplomacy is not without context. Since normalising relations with Israel in 2020 under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, Rabat has sought to leverage this new relationship to serve broader strategic goals. Chief among them is countering Iranian influence in the region. Iran, viewed as a destabilising force by both Morocco and Israel, supports the Polisario Front, which challenges Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. For Rabat, maintaining ties with Israel is part of a broader effort to secure international backing of its claims over the disputed territory.

In this context, normalisation becomes a form of strategic transaction. “In order to contain public opinion,” Hamdi notes, “Morocco has linked normalisation to the widely popular issue of sovereignty over Western Sahara. Rabat has been careful to consistently market normalisation with Israel as a tactic to secure international recognition of Moroccan sovereignty… This has enabled government supporters to deflect from the sense of betrayal by appealing to deep-seated feelings of patriotism.”

This dual-track diplomacy which simultaneously affirms Palestinian statehood while deepening military ties with Israel reflects Morocco’s attempt to position itself as a broker rather than a bystander. Emily Milliken, associate director of media and communications at the Atlantic Council’s N7 Initiative, exclusively told Maghrebi that: “While Rabat has historic support for Palestinian statehood, normalisation has brought key cooperation on defence, technology, and securing international support on Western Sahara.” She added that “Rabat recognises that maintaining relations with Israel can be a pathway to regional influence as well as economic and diplomatic dividends, while also creating a pathway for it to advocate for a just solution for Palestinians directly with the government in Jerusalem.”

However, as Western nations move closer to recognising Palestinian statehood, Morocco’s balancing act becomes more precarious. The reiteration of its support for a two-state solution, timed ahead of the Paris conference, may be as much a strategic recalibration as it is a diplomatic reaffirmation.

According to Hamdi, Morocco is unlikely to be influenced by moves from Western capitals such as Paris or London. “I do not think it will have much of an impact. Some of the main advocates and drivers of normalisation are Middle Eastern leaders themselves who no longer see Palestine as a priority.” But if the dynamics in Washington shift and if U.S. support for Israel softens, or Israel can no longer deliver on its promise to help Morocco secure Western Sahara then Rabat may reconsider. “If Israel can no longer deploy such influence in the US,” Hamdi said, “then Morocco is unlikely to see the benefits of continuing to be so assertive in its ties with Israel and will align with regional tides.”

Public opinion within Morocco is increasingly critical of perceived complicity with Israeli aggression, and the symbolic weight of hosting the Golani Brigade threatens to undermine the legitimacy of Rabat’s pro-Palestinian rhetoric. In this climate, Morocco reiterating support for a two-state solution is not merely diplomatic show but an attempt to hold ground amid shifting allegiances. Whether this message will resonate depends not just on Morocco’s past commitment to the Palestinian cause, but on whether it is willing to match its words with meaningful action in a region increasingly intolerant of hypocrisy.

MedAfrica Times/ Sami Hamdi/ Emily Milliken/ Maghrebi