Morocco Faces Backlash for Hosting Israeli Golani Brigade in African Lion 2025 Drills
Participation of Israeli Soldiers Accused of War Crimes Sparks Arab Outrage Amid Gaza War.
Watan-In a move that shocked the Arab world, Morocco welcomed soldiers from Israel’s Golani Brigade to participate in the African Lion 2025 military drills—one of the largest multinational exercises on the continent. This invitation comes amid the ongoing assault on Gaza, where the Golani Brigade is considered one of the most implicated Israeli units in war crimes against civilians.
The Golani Brigade, notorious for its bloody history dating back to the 1948 Nakba, has been involved in every Israeli war against Arab countries. It played a frontline role in the 2023 and 2024 ground invasions of Gaza, where it was documented committing severe violations against children, women, and civilian infrastructure.
Morocco’s hosting of this unit in cities such as Agadir, Tan-Tan, Tiznit, and Kenitra sparked a wave of human rights and popular condemnation—especially given that these drills are taking place while Israeli leaders face genocide charges at the International Criminal Court.
🛑#المغرب يفتح أبوابه بأمر “أمير المؤمنين!” محمد السادس، لاستقبال أكثر ألوية الاحتلال دمـ*ـويّة
“لواء غولاني” الذي صبّ نارَه على أطفال غـ.ـز^ة، يُستقبل اليوم على أرضٍ عربية ويتم تكريمه والاحتفاء به في مشهد لا يقل قبحًا عن مشاهد مجـ. ـازر غـ*ـزzة نفسها!👇 pic.twitter.com/w66nyg6i9A— وطن. يغرد خارج السرب (@watanserb_news) May 20, 2025
Social media erupted with outrage, with users labeling the move as “shameless normalization and celebration of war criminals.” Activists argued that “a red carpet was rolled out over the blood of Gaza’s martyrs,” warning that whitewashing Israeli soldiers through such events legitimizes their crimes and sends the wrong message to the world.
Although the Moroccan government has remained officially silent, some former diplomats expressed shock at the decision to involve a military unit accused of atrocities, instead of suspending military cooperation with Israel until the massacres stop.
This year’s African Lion exercise includes more than 30 countries and is jointly led by Morocco and the United States. While the drills aim to strengthen military coordination and share expertise, the inclusion of the Golani Brigade has introduced a deeply controversial and politicized element.
Has Moroccan soil become a stage to rehabilitate the image of occupation forces rather than a platform for supporting the Palestinian cause? And will growing public pressure push the Moroccan government to reconsider its stance?
