Spain’s Sánchez accuses Israel and Russia of disinformation over Ceuta migrant crisis

Pedro Sánchez says the migrant crisis in Ceuta became the target of an online disinformation campaign involving networks linked to Russia and Israel, along with an international far-right movement.

Speaking to Cadena Ser radio, Spain’s centre-left prime minister said false claims appeared after July 30 and 31. He said the campaign used migration to attack Spain, Europe and the cohesion between them. Sánchez attributed the allegations to a study by the European External Action Service, the European Union’s foreign policy body.

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After July 30 and 31, rumors and false information appeared, coming from social media networks linked both to Russia and Israel, as well as from an international far-right movement that constantly uses migration not only to attack Spain, but also to attack Europe and divide it.

He also linked the alleged campaign to disagreements between Madrid and the two countries over Spain’s positions on the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East. Sánchez said both countries had used the crisis to criticize his government. He added that online falsehoods were also circulated by groups involved in people smuggling.

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It is evident that the two countries took advantage of the crisis to criticize the Spanish government.

One claim said migrants could not be expelled if they entered Ceuta by swimming. Sánchez said that claim was false and that authorities were still investigating what happened.

Sánchez rejected the idea that Moroccan authorities bore no responsibility for the sudden influx. He said intelligence services with which Spain normally cooperates pointed instead to some level of involvement by Moroccan authorities.

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No intelligence service among those with which the Spanish government normally cooperates raises any doubt; rather, they suggest some involvement, in one way or another, by the Moroccan authorities.

Spanish authorities say around 70,000 people entered the North African enclave and that most have since been returned to Morocco. The Spanish government estimates that 3,500 to 7,000 migrants, including unaccompanied minors, remain in Ceuta. Right-wing leaders in the enclave put the figure at at least 10,000.

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We continue to investigate what happened.