In response to the Israeli aggression in Gaza, several North African countries have issued powerful statements, setting them apart from other nations with ties to Tel Aviv. The Middle East Strategic Studies Center (ORSAM) sheds light on North African nations’ stance concerning the Israeli attack in response to the “Storm of Al-Aqsa” operation initiated by the military wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, on October 7th.
Renowned Turkish writer, Kand Deviği Oğlu, pointed out that the environment of normalization between Middle Eastern countries and Israel has been disrupted due to the war in Gaza. This war resulted in the loss of over 3,200 Palestinian lives and left thousands more injured.
Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, in particular, took a markedly firm stance following the hostilities between Hamas and Israel. These countries supported the Palestinian factions’ struggle against Israel and maintained their commitment during the “Storm of Al-Aqsa” operation. They also opposed Israel’s attempts to normalize relations with Arab and North African countries as part of the Abraham Accords, which included the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.
Furthermore, in the wake of international media reports on the clashes, Algeria called on the international community to intervene in safeguarding the Palestinian people. In addition, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, held a phone call on October 11th, discussing mediation in resolving the conflict.
A statement from the Tunisian Presidency emphasized the Palestinians’ right to establish an independent state and called on all “aware” nations to stand by the Palestinians, remembering the hundreds of massacres committed against them. The Tobruk Parliament expressed its commitment to supporting the Palestinian people in their quest for freedom and urged all Arab nations to support the Palestinian cause. Thus, Palestine’s issue unites the Libyan society, despite disparities in domestic political opinions.
Morocco and Sudan, on the other hand, continue their normalization process through the Abraham Accords with Israel. The motives behind these decisions appear to be political and economic. Morocco’s goal in signing the agreement is to strengthen its control over Western Sahara, gain recognition of its sovereignty, and enhance its standing in the international community. Sudan, meanwhile, aims to bolster its ties with Western nations after the fall of Omar al-Bashir’s regime in 2019 and the lifting of political and economic sanctions imposed by the United States.
Despite achieving their respective objectives, recent events between Hamas and Israel have escalated public reactions in both countries, leading to protests in support of the Palestinians and calls to suspend the normalization process. In Sudan, the Foreign Ministry’s statement attributed the violence against the Palestinians to the declining international interest.
Sudan reaffirmed its support for the Palestinians’ right to establish an independent state. It is evident that the statements issued by Morocco and Sudan were more reserved compared to other regional nations.
