Several Moroccan NGOs welcomed the activists with supportive chants, including "The Moroccan will not be humiliated" and "A boundless salute to the heroes of steadfastness," while participants raised Moroccan and Palestinian flags and banners that read "Heroes of the Freedom Flotilla."
The activists were also greeted with applause and offered dates and milk, in a symbolic welcoming gesture upon their arrival at the airport.
During the reception, Abdelhafid Seriti, coordinator of the “Action Group for Palestine”, praised the participation of Moroccan activists in the global “Steadfastness Flotilla”, stressing that they took risks in order to contribute to breaking the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.
He added that the "Steadfastness Flotilla" will continue its attempts to break the Israeli blockade, noting the continued popular Moroccan support for the Palestinians through events and solidarity vigils in various cities.
Three Turkish Airlines planes arrived in Istanbul on Thursday, carrying activists from the global "Steadfastness Flotilla" who were detained by Israel in international waters while on a humanitarian mission to the Gaza Strip.
Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Haci Ali Ozel said in statements at the airport that 422 civil activists were on board the three planes, including 85 Turkish citizens, while the other 337 belonged to about 40 countries.
On Wednesday, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video showing him overseeing the abuse of activists from the "Steadfastness Flotilla," sparking widespread international condemnation.
These scenes provoked angry international reactions, including the summoning of Israeli ambassadors and representatives by a number of countries, including Spain, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Belgium and Britain.
On Monday, Israel attacked the “Steadfastness Flotilla” boats in the Mediterranean Sea, numbering about 50 boats, with 428 activists from 44 countries on board, and arrested them all, even though they were on a humanitarian mission to provide relief to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and break the siege on it.
The approximately 2.4 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are living in catastrophic humanitarian conditions, exacerbated by the Israeli war that left tens of thousands dead and wounded, most of them women and children.
