The participation of the Israeli army in the 21st edition of the «African Lion 2025» military exercise in Morocco, alongside the U.S. military and several other partner nations, is generating significant controversy. Palestinian voices have condemned the involvement, pointing out that some of the Israeli soldiers present in Morocco are accused of having killed 15 paramedics, UN workers, and rescuers in Rafah, southern Gaza, just two months ago. At the time, Israel claimed its forces had targeted «suspicious vehicles» driving without lights. However, this version was challenged by video footage released on April 5, which appeared to contradict the official account. Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, reacted strongly to reports of the Israeli military's participation, particularly if it includes those involved in the March 23 attack in Rafah. If confirmed, this would mark a new threshold of depravity — and a violation of the international obligation to investigate and prosecute individuals implicated in atrocity crimes. ??I urge Moroccan authorities to uphold the rule of law. The world is watching. https://t.co/mpsAEFaL34 — Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) May 20, 2025 «If confirmed, this would mark a new threshold of depravity — and a violation of the international obligation to investigate and prosecute individuals implicated in atrocity crimes. I urge Moroccan authorities to uphold the rule of law. The world is watching», she wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on May 20, 2025. As a reminder, Morocco and Israel signed a military cooperation agreement in November 2021 in Rabat, formalizing defense ties as part of a broader normalization process between the two countries.
