Israel is preparing to send search and rescue personnel and humanitarian aid to Morocco after an earthquake killed more than 1,000 people in the country. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale, originated in the Atlas Mountains southwest of Marrakech. As rescue workers reach isolated areas, the number of casualties is expected to increase. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement expressing solidarity with the people of Morocco and a commitment to provide any necessary assistance.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, has instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare for immediate emergency assistance through the Home Front Command. However, the search and rescue teams and humanitarian relief delegations are awaiting a response from Moroccan officials before departing from Israel.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has reported no Israeli casualties so far and is working to ensure the safety of Israelis in Morocco. The ministry has dispatched the Israeli consul in Rabat to assess the needs in the affected region. This effort to aid Morocco comes after the normalization of relations between Israel and Morocco in December 2020 through the US-brokered Abraham Accords. In July, Israel recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara, leading to the upgrade of Morocco’s liaison office in Tel Aviv to an embassy.

Approximately one million Israelis have Moroccan roots or are of Moroccan descent. Currently, an estimated 3,000 Jews reside in Morocco. In 2022, over 200,000 Israelis visited Morocco as travel restrictions were eased amid the ongoing pandemic.