Moroccan King Pardons 17 Al Hoceima Detainees

The Moroccan monarch while performing the Eid al-Fitr prayer yesterday (MAP)
The Moroccan monarch while performing the Eid al-Fitr prayer yesterday (MAP)
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Moroccan King Pardons 17 Al Hoceima Detainees

The Moroccan monarch while performing the Eid al-Fitr prayer yesterday (MAP)
The Moroccan monarch while performing the Eid al-Fitr prayer yesterday (MAP)

Moroccan King Mohammed VI has granted Eid Al-Fitr royal pardon to 810 detainees, including prisoners of 17 Al Hoceima movement, the Ministry of Justice revealed on Wednesday.

Among the released are 12 prisoners who were arrested over extremism and terrorism charges.

Security services arrested 17 persons during their participation in protests in the Al Hoceima province over economic and social issues between 2016 and 2017.

However, Morocco’s Ministry of Justice said that the royal pardon took into account “family and human circumstances.”

Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper learned that Nasser Zefzafi (the leader of the protest movement) and Nabil Ahmajik were excluded from the pardon.

A number of local media reported that some of those pardoned had earlier received sentences up to 20 years in prison.

Up to 28 detainees had also received pardon for the remainder of their prison sentences, while around 576 detainees will have their prison sentences reduced.



Hamas Seeks to Convey Gaza Ceasefire Plan to Trump via Türkiye

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a meeting with Hamas leaders on Sunday (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a meeting with Hamas leaders on Sunday (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
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Hamas Seeks to Convey Gaza Ceasefire Plan to Trump via Türkiye

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a meeting with Hamas leaders on Sunday (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a meeting with Hamas leaders on Sunday (Turkish Foreign Ministry)

Hamas is pushing to promote a new ceasefire initiative for the Gaza Strip and is seeking Türkiye’s support to convey its vision to the administration of US President Donald Trump, two sources from the Palestinian group told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Speaking separately on condition of anonymity, the sources said Hamas leadership believes that its proposed “comprehensive deal” or “one-package offer” could be relayed by Turkish officials to Washington, capitalising on Ankara’s strong ties with the Trump administration.

The proposal comes as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to end hostilities in Gaza and secure broader international engagement in resolving the conflict.

Hamas is seeking Turkish support to promote a new ceasefire proposal in Gaza that includes the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners, a complete halt to hostilities, and a full Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

A Hamas delegation led by senior official Mohammed Darwish met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday, as well as intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, to discuss the group’s ceasefire vision, internal Palestinian affairs, and other regional issues.

One of the sources said Hamas is basing its push for Turkish mediation on recent comments by US hostage envoy Adam Boehler, who reportedly suggested Washington could guarantee a ceasefire if Hamas releases all hostages.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several of his ministers have publicly rejected the group’s initiative.

“The meetings in Türkiye aimed to convey a message to Turkish officials, urging them to use their strong ties with the current US administration to pass along Hamas’s proposal to Washington,” the second source said.

The sources noted that Hamas is also relying on other channels, including Qatari mediation, to relay its plan to the Trump administration, hoping to pressure Israel into accepting the terms.

According to the sources, Hamas believes the United States could play a pivotal role in brokering an agreement ahead of Trump’s anticipated visit to the region — a trip the former president reportedly wants to take while fighting in Gaza is paused.

The group’s proposal, reported by Asharq Al-Awsat last week, includes a five-year ceasefire with regional and international guarantees.

Hamas is also calling for the entry of humanitarian aid under established protocols and says it accepts the formation of an independent Palestinian committee—composed of unaffiliated technocrats—to govern Gaza, in line with an Egyptian proposal backed by Arab, Islamic, and European countries.