The Israeli Foreign Ministry evacuated its ambassador in Rabat, David Govrin, and his staff due to the demonstrations over the situation in the Gaza Strip, said Israeli Media Yedioth Ahronoth on Wednesday.
The same source stated that in addition to the Liaison Bureau in Rabat closing its doors, the Israeli Ambassador to Cairo, Amira Oron left her post, accompanied by the embassy’s staff members as well.
The evacuation joins the high alert announced at all Israeli embassies around the world, and has been accompanied by additional security, along with the transfer of envoys from what are perceived by Israel as sensitive countries to safer ones.
Diplomatic staff are ordered not to leave their domiciles beyond what is necessary.
Govrin was appointed, once again, as head of the Liaison Bureau of Israel in Rabat back in mid-July, replacing Shai Cohen.
The Israeli Security Council issued a warning against travel to Morocco and Turkey–after raising the alert level to two and four, respectively–following huge protests occurring in the two countries over the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, and warned Israeli tourists already in these countries to exercise extra caution.
This decision was purportedly a response to the murder of Two Israeli tourists by an Egyptian police officer in an attack last week.
After the surge of devastation in Gaza from Israeli strikes over the past ten days–resulting in the current death toll upwards of 3,478, along with 12,065 wounded–the PJD Party repeated its call for Israel’s Liaison Office in Rabat to be closed, condemning the “brutal Zionist aggression” with a press release on Tuesday.
Following the Israeli air raid on Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza which occurred on Tuesday, killing more than 500 civilians, large demonstrations took place in many Moroccan cities protesting against the escalation in Gaza.
Morocco and Israel announced the resumption of diplomatic relations in December 2020.