Spain's National Police officers stand as migrants wait on the sidewalk before being registered in Loma Colmenar district of Ceuta.
Spain’s Sánchez accuses ‘Israel’ and Russia of rumors that fueled Ceuta migrant crisis
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has accused ‘Israel’ and Russia of spreading and amplifying disinformation that contributed to last month’s mass migrant influx into the North African enclave of Ceuta.
In a radio interview on Cadena SER on Monday, Sánchez cited research by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU’s diplomatic service, linking social media networks associated with both countries and an “ultra-right international” to the false claims.
“After July 30 and 31, rumours and disinformation spread on social networks linked to Russia and Israel, and to an ultra-right international that always uses migration to attack both Spain and Europe and divide it,” Sánchez said.
He added that it was “evident” the two countries used the crisis to criticise Madrid over its stances on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Around 70,000 people crossed from Morocco into Ceuta over several days in late July, overwhelming the small territory of roughly 80,000 residents.
Most returned quickly, but thousands remained, including many minors, sparking local tensions, protests, and ongoing humanitarian challenges.
Sánchez pledged an additional €168 million in aid for Ceuta and stressed the need for European solidarity.
Sánchez firmly rejected claims of Moroccan government involvement.
“No intelligence service with which the Spanish government normally cooperates” had suggested any such role, he said, describing cooperation with Rabat as “frankly positive.”
He blamed criminal trafficking networks for exploiting a Spanish Supreme Court ruling by falsely claiming that migrants who entered by swimming could not be deported.
The crisis occurred against a backdrop of already strained Spain-‘Israel’ relations.
Sánchez has been a vocal critic of ‘Israel’s’ actions in Gaza, describing them as genocide and imposing restrictions on military cooperation.
‘Israeli’ officials had earlier mocked Spain’s handling of the migrant surge, with UN Ambassador Danny Danon highlighting what he called Spain’s “colonial enclaves” in Africa.
'Israeli' response
‘Israel’, in response, accused Sanchez of "lying shamelessly" after his comments.
"In his interview with Cadena SER today, he lied again, astonishingly accusing Israel of disseminating misleading information regarding the events in Ceuta. This is a brazen lie. Continuing to spread defamatory lies will not distract from Sanchez's disgraceful failure to manage his country's affairs," Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X.
