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Ceuta migration crisis: Spain accuses Israel and Russia of fueling unrest
🇩🇪 Germany /Culture & Society

Ceuta migration crisis: Spain accuses Israel and Russia of fueling unrest

From Der Spiegel · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Under investigation
  • Spain is investigating whether disinformation campaigns linked to Russia and Israel contributed to the arrival of about 72,000 migrants in Ceuta over two days in July.
  • Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the alleged interference could be linked to Spain's criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and Russia's war against Ukraine.
  • About 5,000 migrants, including 1,200 minors, reportedly remained in the enclave, where growing local protests increased pressure on the government.

Spain is still examining how roughly 72,000 migrants reached Ceuta over two days in July, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has pointed to possible foreign disinformation as one factor.

Sánchez said the European External Action Service informed his government about social networks with "connections to Russia and Israel" that may have amplified false reports and encouraged the rush toward the Spanish enclave in North Africa. He said any involvement would not have been motivated by concern for migrants, but by Spain's criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

connections to Russia and Israel

— Pedro SánchezSánchez described the social networks that he said may have spread disinformation about the migration crisis.

Most of those who swam from Morocco or climbed over border fences on July 30 and 31 returned within hours. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said about 5,000 remained by Friday, including 1,200 minors. The territory is not much larger than Frankfurt Airport.

genocide

— Pedro SánchezHe referred to Spain's criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza.

The prolonged presence of so many migrants has prompted increasingly violent demonstrations by some local residents, placing Sánchez's government under heavy pressure. He also criticized what he called an international far-right movement that repeatedly uses migration to attack and divide Spain and Europe.

The allegations fit broader Spanish and European warnings about Russian hybrid warfare, which officials describe as a mix of military, economic, intelligence and propaganda tools, including disinformation and state-directed cyberattacks. Russia has rejected earlier claims that pro-Russian forces helped fuel the Ceuta crisis, calling them an unsupported speculation.

an international far-right movement

— Pedro SánchezHe accused the movement of using migration to attack and divide Spain and Europe.
About this summary

Originally published by Der Spiegel in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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