Spain accuses Russia and Israel of fueling Ceuta migrant disinformation
Spain's prime minister alleges Russian and Israeli networks amplified false narratives around the recent influx of migrants into the North African enclave of Ceuta.
Pedro Sanchez told Cadena Ser radio on Monday that online rumours linked to Russia and Israel were deliberately amplified during the mass arrival of migrants in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta at the end of July. The claim rests on a report from the European Union’s foreign policy arm, the European External Action Service, which identified coordinated disinformation campaigns across social platforms.
Why the allegations matter
The accusations come at a time when Madrid’s left‑wing government is already under pressure over its handling of the crisis. Roughly 70,000 people entered Ceuta, most of whom have been returned to Morocco. The Spanish authorities estimate that between 3,500 and 7,000 migrants remain, including unaccompanied children, while local right‑wing leaders argue the figure could be as high as 10,000. By linking the misinformation to countries that are at odds with Spain over Ukraine and Middle‑East policy, Sanchez suggests a broader geopolitical strategy aimed at undermining Madrid’s credibility.
What comes next
Sanchez rejected any implication that Moroccan officials were complicit, stating that no Spanish intelligence partner has raised doubts about Rabat’s role. He added that investigations are ongoing into the false claim that migrants who swim into Ceuta cannot be deported, a statement that remains unverified.
We are continuing to investigate what happened,
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded on X, accusing the prime minister of “lying shamelessly” and calling the allegations “a brazen lie”. The diplomatic spat is likely to see heightened rhetoric in both Madrid and Jerusalem, and could prompt the EU to scrutinise disinformation networks tied to foreign states more closely.
In the short term, Spanish officials will focus on processing the remaining migrants and tightening border controls, while diplomatic channels may be used to address the alleged foreign interference. The episode underscores the challenges European democracies face in separating genuine security concerns from orchestrated information campaigns.
