The spokesperson for the Israeli military, Ella Wawiya, has ignited a significant wave of criticism across social media platforms following her release of a video in Moroccan dialect, where she expressed her support for the Moroccan national football team ahead of their match against Brazil in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. In the video, Wawiya stated, "We support the Moroccan team, and we are proud of the Atlas Lions," seemingly directed at Moroccan fans before the match. However, her remarks were met with widespread disapproval from many Moroccans who felt that her message did not resonate with their sentiments and contradicted the strong public support for the Palestinian cause.
Observers noted that the use of Moroccan dialect was not merely a linguistic detail but rather an attempt to appeal to Moroccan public opinion and demonstrate a connection with Moroccan society by leveraging a sporting event that attracts considerable attention. Despite this effort on social media, many Moroccans reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Palestinian people, rendering the initiative ineffective.
Social media platforms were flooded with comments rejecting what activists termed the exploitation of sports for political purposes, emphasizing that support for the Moroccan team cannot be separated from the firmly held public positions regarding the Palestinian issue, which holds a prominent place in the collective consciousness of Moroccans. Numerous Moroccan fans asserted that Israel's support for the Atlas Lions does not instill pride in them, stressing that their solidarity with the Palestinian people remains steadfast, regardless of the statements or messages issued by Israeli officials.
Furthermore, some fans pointed out that raising the Palestinian flag in international sports arenas and events has become a symbol of Moroccan public solidarity with Palestine. Moroccans recall the scenes during the Moroccan national team's participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where players and fans alike made it a point to raise the Palestinian flag on several occasions, an act that garnered extensive global media attention.
In recent months, various regions across Morocco have witnessed demonstrations and solidarity gatherings in support of the Palestinian people, particularly since the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023.
As reported by refugeesps.net.
