Nasser Bourita has defended Morocco’s relations with Israel, arguing that keeping diplomatic ties allows Rabat to take concrete action in support of the Palestinians. Speaking to Fox News on 16 September in New York, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs recalled in particular the delivery of 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid to northern Gaza in March 2024.
His comments came a day after a meeting in New York with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar and the United States ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz. The three countries announced a strengthening of diplomatic relations between Rabat and Tel Aviv, including the upgrading of diplomatic representations to full embassies and the appointment of ambassadors.
Bourita explains Morocco’s choice
Nasser Bourita defended the decision to maintain relations with Israel by stressing their concrete usefulness.
“We can help the Palestinians on the humanitarian level because we have these relations with Israel,” the minister told Fox News.
He presented diplomatic channels as a tool that enables Morocco to facilitate specific humanitarian initiatives in favour of the Palestinians.
Bourita also underlined that Rabat does not automatically share Israel’s positions.
“We do not agree with Israel 100%. Each can have its own policy,” he explained.
The 40 tonnes of aid sent to Gaza
To illustrate his argument, the Moroccan minister cited a humanitarian operation carried out in March 2024.
Morocco had managed to deliver 40 tonnes of food and medical supplies to northern Gaza using a land route through the Kerem Shalom crossing point.
According to Reuters, the shipment was first flown to Israel. It then entered Gaza by land aboard Palestinian Red Crescent trucks. A Moroccan diplomatic source indicated at the time that the relations established with Israel had made it possible to secure this route.
For Bourita, this episode illustrates the value of maintaining channels of dialogue, even when the political positions of the two countries do not coincide.
‘Taking initiatives’ rather than staying in rhetoric
The Moroccan minister also contrasted political declarations with concrete initiatives.
He asked whether it was better to continue “with rhetoric and political positions” or to take initiatives that can deliver results on the ground.
Bourita also referred to Morocco’s participation in efforts aimed at stabilising Gaza.
He defended an approach based on action and the preservation of open diplomatic channels.
Morocco–Israel: relations move to a new stage
These statements take on particular significance following the announcement made on 16 September 2026 in New York.
Morocco and Israel agreed to strengthen their diplomatic relations. The two countries will notably upgrade their representations to the status of fully fledged embassies and proceed with an exchange of ambassadors.
The agreement also provides for the development of cooperation in several areas. The two sides notably mentioned trade, investment, agriculture, water, energy, telecommunications and tourism.
The resumption of direct flights between the two countries is also among the measures announced.
A Moroccan position that separates diplomacy from political alignment
In his remarks, Bourita therefore presents the maintenance of relations with Israel as a diplomatic tool, rather than an endorsement of all Israeli policies.
His argument rests in particular on Morocco’s ability to use these channels to facilitate certain actions in favour of the Palestinians.
The example of the 2024 humanitarian aid operation is the main illustration put forward by the minister.
This position comes as Rabat and Tel Aviv are preparing to deepen their diplomatic relations, while maintaining stances that do not fully converge on all regional issues.
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