DistantNews
Support us
Spain links Ceuta migrant crisis to disinformation tied to Russia and Israel
🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

Spain links Ceuta migrant crisis to disinformation tied to Russia and Israel

From Die Zeit · () German

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

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Ongoing story
  • Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accused social media accounts with links to Russia and Israel of amplifying misinformation after the late-July migrant influx into Ceuta.
  • Sánchez said an international far-right movement had used migration to attack and divide Spain and Europe, without providing further details.
  • About 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, most returning within hours, while roughly 5,000 remained, including 1,200 minors, according to Spanish officials.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has linked the mass arrival of migrants in Ceuta to a wider disinformation campaign involving social media accounts with “connections to Russia and Israel.”

Speaking to Spanish broadcaster Ser, Sánchez also blamed an “international far-right movement” for exploiting migration to attack and divide Spain and Europe. He did not initially provide further details about the allegations.

connections to Russia and Israel

— Pedro SánchezSánchez described the alleged links of social media accounts that amplified misinformation after the migrant influx.

Around 72,000 migrants swam from Morocco or climbed over border fences into the North African Spanish enclave on July 30 and 31, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said. Most returned within hours. About 5,000 remained in the territory by Friday, including 1,200 minors, according to Sánchez.

international far-right movement

— Pedro SánchezHe blamed the movement for using migration to attack and divide Spain and Europe.

The continued presence of so many migrants has put the government under pressure. Some local residents have held increasingly violent protests against the situation.

Sánchez said the government could act only on the basis of data and verified facts. He argued that a July 8 Supreme Court ruling had been distorted online through false reports, disinformation and criminal trafficking organisations. The misinformation allegedly claimed that anyone reaching Ceuta by swimming could not be deported, which Sánchez said was untrue.

What we know so far is that a ruling by the Supreme Court on July 8 was distorted on social networks through false reports, disinformation and also criminal organisations involved in human trafficking.

— Pedro SánchezSánchez explained how he said misinformation spread during the Ceuta crisis.

He also said Morocco had cooperated “immediately” and comprehensively with Spanish authorities during the crisis.

immediately

— Pedro SánchezHe described Morocco’s response and cooperation with Spanish authorities.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit 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.

More Stories

From Our Blog