Moroccan journalist Mohamed El Bakkali released by Israel after Gaza mission arrest

On Sunday, July 27, Israeli authorities released Moroccan journalist Mohamed El Bakkali, who serves as a correspondent for Al Jazeera. Prior to his release, El Bakkali agreed to a condition prohibiting him from joining any future humanitarian missions to Gaza. This stipulation extends to the other activists aboard the «Handala». The Moroccan journalist is scheduled to board a direct flight to Paris this Monday morning.

To recap, on Saturday evening, Israeli naval forces intercepted the «Handala» in international waters of the Mediterranean, detaining its passengers, including Mohamed El Bakkali, and transporting them to Israel.

Just hours before his arrest, El Bakkali recorded a video message appealing to Moroccan authorities for intervention should he be detained by the Israeli military.

In Morocco, a coalition of political groups, spanning both left-wing and Islamist factions, demanded Mohamed El Bakkali's release as early as last night.