Morocco refuses to play role in Gaza hostage negotiations, Israeli media claims

Israeli media reports indicate challenges in securing Morocco's involvement in efforts to release Israeli hostages held by Hamas since October 7th. Some of the hostages hold Moroccan origin, sparking Jewish community interest in Morocco's participation.

While the Israeli government views Morocco as a «positive regional actor» and desires its involvement in Gaza's post-conflict reconstruction, particularly regarding humanitarian aid and potential resolution efforts, reports suggest these attempts haven't borne fruit so far.

These reports coincide with leaked details of an Israeli plan proposing an «interim» Israeli military administration in Gaza to manage humanitarian needs. The plan reportedly envisions eventual control transfer to a coalition of Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, UAE, and Bahrain (excluding Saudi Arabia, others have established diplomatic ties with Israel).

Since October, Qatar and Egypt have played leading roles in negotiating two key aspects of the conflict: hostage release in exchange for Israeli prisoner release, and humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. Morocco's specific role in these negotiations remains unclear.