Moroccan whistleblower reveals how Rabat used Israel's Pegasus spyware for surveillance

Moroccan whistleblower reveals how Rabat used Israel's Pegasus spyware for surveillance Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 07/17/2026 - 13:58 Testimony from intelligence insider and leaked records show extensive use of spyware against dissidents and foreign officials Morocco's then interior minister, Abdelouafi Laftit (left), receives his Spanish counterpart, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, during his official visit to Rabat on 20 November 2020 (Fadel Senna/AFP) Off A Moroccan intelligence insider has revealed details about his government’s use of hacking software, including Israeli-manufactured Pegasus spyware , to track journalists, human right defenders and foreign officials. The whistleblower's revelations were reported in an investigation published on Thursday by Forbidden Stories, Amnesty and 13 media organisations. Investigative reporting in 2021 accused Morocco of having used the Israeli-manufactured hacking tool for spying on its critics as well as allies - claims that Rabat denied at the time.