The Moroccan revolution of 1465 marked a significant transitional period in the country's political landscape, culminating in the overthrow of the Marinid dynasty. Amidst the turmoil and shifts in power, tensions flared within the city of Fez, particularly targeting the Jewish community residing in the mellah, a segregated neighborhood designated for Jews. The reasons behind this outbreak of violence can be traced back to a combination of economic hardships, social frictions, and the collapse of political stability that characterized the Marinid rule. As the revolution took off, the population's frustrations coalesced into violence, leading to the attack on the mellah, where many Jewish residents had sought refuge from the changing political tides.

Eyewitness accounts and contemporary records suggest that the violence varied in intensity, ranging from acts of vandalism to outright assaults on individuals. However, the precise death toll and extent of the damage inflicted on the mellah remain contentious points among scholars, with some arguing that the reported numbers may have been exaggerated or minimized for political reasons. The attack reflected broader societal tensions in Morocco, exacerbated by the power vacuum left by the Marinid dynasty, demonstrating how revolutions can turn on marginalized communities in times of unrest.

In the aftermath, the dynamics of Jewish life in Morocco began to change irrevocably. The events in Fez were not an isolated incident but part of a larger narrative concerning Jewish-Muslim relations in the region. The transition from Marinid to Saadi rule would lead to new political alignments and changes in social policies impacting the Jewish population, influencing their status and rights in Moroccan society for generations to come.