Spanish PM: Russia and Israel Spread Disinformation Over Ceuta Migrant Crisis

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday that both Russia and Israel spread and amplified disinformation connected to the mass arrival of migrants in Spain's North African exclave of Ceuta last month. He based the claim on research conducted by the European Union's foreign policy arm, the European External Action Service (EEAS).

Speaking to radio station Cadena Ser, Sanchez said that after July 30 and 31, rumours and disinformation spread through social networks linked to both Russia and Israel, as well as an international far-right movement that regularly uses migration to attack not only Spain but also Europe, aiming to divide it.

Tensions with both countries

Sanchez said it was "evident" that both countries exploited the crisis to criticise the Spanish government, given their disagreements with Madrid over its stance on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Morocco cleared of responsibility

The prime minister also ruled out any responsibility on the part of Moroccan authorities for the sudden influx of migrants into Ceuta. He said none of the intelligence services that the Spanish government normally cooperates with had raised doubts about Moroccan authorities' involvement in the events in one way or another.

According to Spanish authorities, the vast majority of the roughly 70,000 people who entered Ceuta have since been returned to Morocco.