Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez blamed Russia and Israel for spreading disinformation during last month’s mass migrant crossing in Ceuta, citing European Union research. Meanwhile, intelligence reports revealed no prior warning of the crisis scale, and Morocco faced no blame from Madrid.
A humanitarian border emergency in Spain’s North African exclave quickly morphed into an international information battle. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez asserted that foreign governments exploited the chaos for geopolitical leverage, pointing directly to a coordinated digital storm that hit social media platforms in late July.
Citing research conducted by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Union’s foreign service and diplomatic arm, Sanchez detailed how online networks linked to Moscow and Jerusalem amplified false narratives. Sanchez told Spain’s Cadena Ser radio on Monday that after July 30 and 31, rumours and disinformation spread on social networks linked to Russia and Israel, and to an ultra-right international that always uses migration to attack both Spain and Europe and divide it. The timing coincided with intense diplomatic friction between Madrid and both foreign capitals regarding ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, with Sanchez stating it was “evident” that the two countries had used the crisis to criticise the Spanish government as they were at odds with Madrid over its position on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Spain’s Sanchez says Russia, Israel spread disinformation on Ceuta
Russia and Israel both spread and amplified disinformation related to the mass entry of migrants into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta last month, according to the European Union’s foreign service. A European migration crisis quickly became an information battle, with Madrid pointing to foreign networks and far-right groups behind the online campaign. The head of the Spanish government referred to an analysis by the European External Action Service, noting that international far-right networks joined the discrediting campaign, using migration as an issue to deepen tensions in Europe.
Disinformation Campaigns and Antisemitic Explanations on Social Media
The digital fallout following the border breach drew sharp monitoring from independent watchdogs. CAM’s Antisemitism Research Center (ARC) monitored 173 high-impact posts published by 119 influencer accounts in the three days after more than 50,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on July 30.
Sacha Roytman, CAM CEO
Spanish PM says disinformation on Ceuta crisis was spread
Together, the posts generated 57.5 million views, 1.9 million likes, and 368,400 shares, generating an estimated total reach of 103.1 million across digital platforms.
Intelligence Gaps and the Denial of Moroccan Involvement
Domestically, the government faced tough questions regarding preparedness in an interview on Cadena SER, where the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, reappeared publicly a month after the massive entry of migrants in Ceuta, which has caused a humanitarian, migratory, and social crisis that seems far from being resolved. Sánchez pointed out that there were reports from the CNI and the National Police in the days leading up to the entry, but that none shared the magnitude of the crisis that we were going to suffer.
Despite this, he noted, the Government of Spain reinforced controls at the borders and prepared the Temporary Stay Center for Immigrants (CETI).
Despite local speculation and political friction, the prime minister also reiterated that Morocco had nothing to do with the massive entry and that the authorities of that country have collaborated at all times, ruling out any responsibility on the part of Morocco regarding the sudden influx of migrants who arrived in Spanish territory.
Sánchez assures that the CNI did not warn of
The local humanitarian footprint remains severe following a month after over 72,000 migrants surged into Ceuta, sparking tensions within the European Union and fueling anti-immigration rhetoric among far-right parties worldwide, with at least 96 people dying in the attempt to reach European soil. More than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta in late July, swimming or crossing on foot from neighbouring Morocco in a chaotic influx that left scores dead and fuelled fresh tensions within the European Union over migration. Spanish authorities estimated at the time that about 49,000 migrants entered the enclave within 24 hours. Madrid later described the episode as a violation of Spanish territorial sovereignty. Although the vast majority returned to Morocco within hours, thousands remain in the territory, many living rough on the streets, with Spain’s left-wing government putting the figure at between 3,500 and 7,000, while Ceuta’s right-wing leaders say it is at least 10,000.
Wider European Diplomatic Fallout and Tensions With Israel
The domestic migration pressure ran parallel to a profound diplomatic fracture. The crisis also triggered wider political fallout across Europe, with Italy threatening to suspend aspects of its Schengen arrangements with Spain, while testimony from migrants that Moroccan police had encouraged crossings fueled anger in Madrid and concern elsewhere in Europe.
Relations with Jerusalem and Moscow have seen continued strain, as Sánchez linked the alleged activity to Spain’s broader disputes with Moscow over the war in Ukraine and with Jerusalem over the wars in Gaza and the wider Middle East. As Spanish authorities address the aftermath, investigators continue tracking the digital infrastructure behind the rumors spread across social media networks linked to Russia and Israel.
