On July 27, Israeli authorities released Moroccan journalist Mohamed El Bakkali, who had been aboard the humanitarian vessel Handala en route to Gaza. Upon his return to Morocco, El Bakkali expressed surprise at the swift and proactive efforts of the Moroccan liaison office in Tel Aviv, as he shared in an interview with Moroccan media outlet. «Upon my arrival in Israel, I was met by Abdelrrahim Bayoud, head of the Moroccan mission in Tel Aviv, along with the consul, Mrs. Khadija (whose surname escapes me). This is a moment for the history books», he said. The Al Jazeera journalist noted that Moroccan diplomats were significantly more engaged than their counterparts from other countries with nationals aboard the Handala, which was intercepted by the Israeli navy in the Mediterranean on July 26. «I say this with utmost sincerity. I thank them, as well as the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for their decisive action», he said. It is worth recalling that El Bakkali had previously issued a video plea addressed to the «authorities of [his] country, Morocco», urging them to intervene and secure his release from Israeli custody. The interception of the Handala as it sailed toward Gaza prompted widespread calls for Moroccan diplomatic intervention on behalf of the journalist.
