RABAT (Dispatches) – Several thousand people demonstrated in Morocco’s capital on Sunday to show support for Palestinians in war-torn Gaza.
Under pouring rain, demonstrators marched through the streets of Rabat in response to a call from the National Action Group for Palestine, a coalition of several political organizations, including the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD).
“The Moroccans are with Gaza,” said the principal of a private school in Rabat who spoke to AFP.
The North African kingdom has officially called for “the immediate, complete and permanent halt to the Israeli war on Gaza,” but has not publicly discussed reversing the official establishment of ties with Israel in 2020 as part of the US-led Abraham Accords.
The latest protest followed another large rally held a week earlier, part of a spate of demonstrations across the country since the Israeli army resumed its aggression on Gaza on March 18.
Demonstrators opposing the Zionist regime’s policies also assembled in Times Square in New York City late Saturday to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student who has been detained, according to a U.S. media report.
Supporters of Khalil showed up despite rainy weather, chanting slogans and holding signs such as “Free Mahmoud Khalil Now!” and “Hands Off Our Students,” among others, the New York Post reported.
Activist Linda Sarsour, known for her outspoken criticism of Israel, addressed the crowd and encouraged solidarity with Khalil, according to the news agency.
A U.S. immigration judge ruled Friday that a Columbia University pro-Palestinian activist can be deported under a rarely used federal law, citing foreign policy concerns, according to media reports.
Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident and green card holder, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on March 8 at his Columbia University housing in New York City after participating in pro-Palestinian protests.
He was initially taken to a facility in neighboring New Jersey before being transferred to a detention center in the state of Louisiana.
Judge Jamee Comans found that Khalil could be removed from the country based on a determination by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who claimed that Khalil’s presence “would compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest.”
Comans gave Khalil’s legal team until April 23 to file an appeal. If they fail to meet the deadline, reports indicate that a removal order by the judge would be issued to deport him to Syria or Algeria.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators also rallied in front of the U.S. Embassy in London on Saturday as part of a global day of action, condemning Washington’s support for the Zionist regime’s military campaign in Gaza and highlighting censorship of Palestinian voices by major tech firms. 
Protesters formed a human chain outside the U.S. Embassy in London to denounce an unwavering American support for Israel’s military onslaught in Gaza.
The demonstration featured silence, music, and traditional dance, aiming to send a political message to both the U.S. and UK governments.
The protest in London was one of several actions held globally in a coordinated effort to spotlight what activists call a “genocidal war” against Palestinians.
Elsewhere in London, demonstrators gathered outside the BBC’s offices, accusing the UK’s public broadcaster of contributing to public support for the war by “amplifying misinformation” disseminated by Israeli sources.