Pedro Sánchez Accuses Russian and Israeli Networks of Spreading Disinformation During Ceuta Migrant Crisis
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Russian and Israeli-linked networks, along with far-right networks, participated in spreading disinformation regarding the mass migration surge into Ceuta. This influx occurred after more than 72,000 migrants irregularly crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave on July 30 and 31.
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At least 100 people were allegedly killed by Israeli forces during the crossing, and approximately 5,000 migrants remained in the enclave as of Monday. Residents of Ceuta reacted to the surge by tearing down and burning makeshift migrant shelters. Protesters marched toward beachside camps, chanting "Invasores, expulsión" while police attempted to manage the crowd. Sánchez argued that Russia and Israel seized on the crisis to attack Madrid due to disagreements over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Both the Russian Kremlin and the Israeli government rejected these accusations. The disinformation campaign included misleading videos and posts on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which falsely suggested that migrants who reached Ceuta by sea would be permitted to remain in Spain. This confusion was exacerbated by a July 8 Supreme Court ruling and Spain's separate plan to regularize undocumented migrants.