Sanchez blames Israeli, Russian-linked accounts for Ceuta migration disinformation

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Monday that social media accounts linked to Israel and Russia had spread disinformation about Spain, and accused those accounts of fueling a migration crisis in the North African enclave of Ceuta. Speaking at a press conference, Sanchez dismissed Moroccan authorities' claims of responsibility for the crisis and said information from the European Commission pointed to Israeli involvement. He linked the alleged campaign to Madrid's stance on the war in Gaza, noting that Spain has repeatedly condemned the conflict, sharply criticized Israeli policies, and formally recognized an independent Palestinian state in May 2024 alongside Ireland and Norway. Sanchez questioned why Israel would take an interest in Spain's migration file and whether that posture was connected to Madrid's position on the war in Gaza. On August 6, the Moroccan government announced that roughly 40,000 people had attempted to enter Ceuta irregularly. Spanish media reported the number of bodies recovered from the sea off Ceuta has risen to 88.