Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday there were signs that Russian and Israeli networks helped spread disinformation about Spain’s migration policy, contributing to last month’s unprecedented surge of migrants into Ceuta.
More than 72,000 migrants crossed irregularly from Morocco into the Spanish territory between 30 and 31 July resulting in the death of at least 100 people according to local authorities.
The surge triggered alarm across the European Union and renewed tensions between Spain and Morocco. Rabat has denied accusations that it deliberately allowed the mass crossing.
Sanchez rejected claims that Moroccan authorities were involved.
“When people talk and speculate about the participation of Moroccan authorities, I deny this outright,” he told Spanish radio station SER.
Spanish authorities said misleading videos on Instagram, TikTok and other social media falsely suggested migrants reaching Ceuta by sea would be allowed to remain in Spain.
Sanchez said research by the EU’s diplomatic service, the EEAS, indicated that Russian and Israeli networks had worked alongside far-right groups to spread the claims.
He said the crisis had been used to criticise Madrid over its positions on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, but provided no further details.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected the accusation, saying Sanchez was “lying shamelessly”.
The Kremlin also denied any involvement. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected Spain’s claims linking Moscow to the crisis.
The EEAS had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
Around 5,000 migrants have remained in Ceuta since the border surge, fuelling protests over the government’s handling of the crisis and sporadic attacks on a makeshift migrant camp.
Police arrested three Moroccan citizens on Sunday after they allegedly threw bottles containing corrosive liquids at an army patrol, according to EFE. No one was injured.
Sanchez also announced an additional $195 million in emergency funding to support Ceuta’s economy, on top of $209 million pledged last week.
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