Spain’s prime minister blames Israel, Russia for disinformation around Ceuta border crisis

Pedro Sánchez has accused Israel and Russia of using online disinformation to undermine Spain after more than 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta between July 30 and 31. Local authorities said at least 100 people died during the attempt to enter the Spanish exclave in North Africa.

In his first interview since the border crisis, Spain’s prime minister said social-media campaigns expanded after the crossings. He linked them to Russia, Israel and an international far-right movement that he said uses migration to attack Spain, target Europe and deepen divisions.

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After July 30th and 31st, there was an expansion of these hoaxes and this disinformation by social networks associated with both Russia and Israel, and with an international far-right movement that always uses migration, not only to attack Spain, but also to attack Europe and divide it.

“After July 30th and 31st, there was an expansion of these hoaxes and this disinformation by social networks associated with both Russia and Israel, and with an international far-right movement that always uses migration, not only to attack Spain, but also to attack Europe and divide it,” Sánchez told Cadena SER.

Sánchez said research by the European Union’s European External Action Service showed that Israel and Russia stood behind the campaigns, but he did not provide further details about the evidence. He said the countries were motivated by Spain’s positions on the war in Gaza and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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In the case of Ceuta, we saw attempts by Russia to exploit the crisis online. However, we have no conclusive evidence to suggest that the crisis itself was triggered by disinformation from foreign state actors.

An EU spokesperson told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that Russia had tried to exploit the Ceuta crisis online. However, the spokesperson said there was no conclusive evidence that foreign state actors had triggered the crisis itself. The spokesperson did not specifically address Sánchez’s allegation against Israel and said the EEAS shares research with member states when their interests are affected.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected Sánchez’s claim, saying the Spanish prime minister was “lying shamelessly.” Sánchez and Morocco’s Interior Ministry have attributed the surge in crossings to human-trafficking networks that exploited misunderstandings about a change in Spain’s border policy.

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lying shamelessly