Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister, has accused Russia and Israel of inflaming the Ceuta crisis by spreading disinformation online.
Mr Sánchez cited research by the EU’s External Action Service (EAS) that said Russia and Israeli networks attacked Spain over the chaotic influx of Moroccan migrants to the Spanish exclave on the north African coast.
At least 72,000 migrants poured across the border from Morocco into Ceuta on July 30, prompting a diplomatic crisis in which 22 EU countries criticised Spain over its migration policy.
Most of the migrants have returned to Morocco but at least 5,000 remain in the territory of 82,000 people, and tensions with locals have risen.
On Monday, Mr Sánchez told the Cadena SER radio station that it was “evident” that Israel and Russia used the Ceuta crisis to criticise Spain as they were at odds with Madrid over its opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s war in Gaza.
But Israel accused Mr Sánchez of “lying shamelessly” about the country’s supposed involvement.
Mr Sánchez told Cadena SER there were “indeed Russian and Israeli networks that attacked the Spanish government and the European workers on a very sensitive issue: the fight against irregular migration, which is currently dividing, fracturing, and polarising many European countries”.
“It’s obvious that Russia is involved in spreading disinformation on this issue. Israel is also spreading disinformation on this issue by criticising the Spanish government,” he said.
“And that won’t be because they are worried about migration to Spain from Europe, but precisely because of the political positions we’re taking – which I think are courageous – regarding the genocide in Gaza or Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.”
Gideon Saar, the Israeli foreign minister, responded, saying: “In his interview with Cadena SER today, he [Mr Sánchez] lied again, astonishingly accusing Israel of disseminating misleading information regarding the events in Ceuta.
“This is a brazen lie. Continuing to spread defamatory lies will not distract from Sánchez’s disgraceful failure to manage his country’s affairs.”
Spain’s Socialist leader has been an outspoken critic of Israel over its war in Gaza, and Spain has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The EAS did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Telegraph.
On Monday, Italy extended the suspension of visa-free Schengen travel arrangements with Spain for a further 15 days.
The conservative coalition government in Rome, led by Giorgia Meloni, initially suspended visa-free travel rules with Spain on Aug 1 as a response to the Ceuta crisis.
The Spanish retaliated by introducing random checks on travellers arriving from Italian ports and airports.
The Italian government is reportedly concerned that a month after the Ceuta crisis, thousands of migrants remain in the Spanish territory and the Sánchez government appears unable or unwilling to get a grip on the situation.
Mr Sánchez went on to deny Moroccan involvement in the influx.
“No intelligence service with which the Spanish government normally cooperates sheds any doubt, or rather, suggests any doubt about the involvement in any way or another of the Moroccan authorities,” he said.
Russia and Israel Accused of Inflaming the Ceuta Crisis
The recent crisis in Ceuta has become one of the most serious migration and political challenges facing Spain in 2026. The situation became particularly controversial after tens of thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish territory in late July. As the crisis developed, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accused networks linked to Russia and Israel of spreading and amplifying disinformation on social media. However, both countries have rejected the accusations, making the issue even more politically sensitive.
According to Sánchez, false information circulating online contributed to the confusion surrounding Spain’s migration policies. Some social media posts reportedly created the impression that migrants who entered Ceuta would not be immediately returned to Morocco. These messages spread rapidly and encouraged large numbers of people to attempt the crossing. More than 70,000 migrants were reported to have entered Ceuta during the dramatic episode, while many others were later returned to Morocco. {“fallbackMarkdown”:”(Financial Times)”,”reference”:{“matched_text”:””,”prefix”:null,”start_idx”:1641,”end_idx”:1672,”safe_urls”:[“https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/31/spains-sanchez-condemns-russia-israel-disinformation-during-ceuta-crisis”,”https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/31/spains-sanchez-condemns-russia-israel-disinformation-during-ceuta-crisis?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”https://www.ft.com/content/306358c2-3597-40dd-b2cd-534073c35fde”,”https://www.ft.com/content/306358c2-3597-40dd-b2cd-534073c35fde?utm_source=chatgpt.com”],”refs”:[],”alt”:”(Financial Times)”,”prompt_text”:null,”type”:”grouped_webpages”,”status”:”done”,”style”:null,”fallback_items”:null,”error”:null,”items”:[{“title”:”Spain’s Sánchez accuses Russia and Israel of inflaming migrant crisis”,”url”:”https://www.ft.com/content/306358c2-3597-40dd-b2cd-534073c35fde?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”attribution”:”Financial Times”,”pub_date”:1788179304.384,”snippet”:”Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has accused Russia and Israel of fueling discord surrounding a severe migrant crisis in Ceuta, a Spanish exclave in North Africa. In late July, over 70,000 migrants entered the enclave from Morocco in a single day, spurred by misinformation, including a misinterpreted Spanish Supreme Court ruling suggesting they could not be deported immediately. Sánchez claimed Russian and Israeli social media accounts amplified false information, though he offered no concrete evidence. The crisis has led to unrest in Ceuta, with at least 82 deaths reported, and has drawn heavy domestic criticism. The EU has identified Russian disinformation activity post-crisis onset but did not find evidence of encouragement for the migration wave or confirm Israeli involvement. Israel and Russia have denied the accusations, calling them baseless. The incident has deepened EU divisions over immigration policy, sparking border control tensions between Spain and Italy. Sánchez urged EU solidarity in handling the crisis, framing it as a broader attack on the Union.”,”attribution_segments”:null,”supporting_websites”:[{“title”:”Spain’s Sanchez says Russia, Israel spread disinformation on Ceuta crisis | Migration News | Al Jazeera”,”url”:”https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/31/spains-sanchez-condemns-russia-israel-disinformation-during-ceuta-crisis?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”pub_date”:null,”snippet”:””,”attribution”:”Al Jazeera”}],”refs”:[{“turn_index”:0,”ref_type”:”news”,”ref_index”:20},{“turn_index”:0,”ref_type”:”search”,”ref_index”:0}],”hue”:null,”attributions”:null}]},”showLoginRequiredCard”:false}
The Spanish prime minister described the situation as more than a normal migration crisis. He argued that foreign-linked networks had used social media to intensify divisions within Spain and Europe. Sánchez also connected the alleged information campaign to wider political disagreements between Spain, Russia, and Israel. Spain has strongly criticized Russia over the war in Ukraine and has taken a particularly critical position toward Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Sánchez suggested that these political disagreements may have created a motive for hostile information campaigns.
Nevertheless, it is important to distinguish between allegations and proven facts. Sánchez cited research by the European External Action Service, but reports indicate that the available evidence does not establish that the Russian or Israeli governments directly organized the migration surge. European officials found evidence of Russian-linked activity spreading misinformation after the crisis had already begun, while concrete evidence of Israeli involvement remained less clear. Russia and Israel have both denied the accusations. {“fallbackMarkdown”:”(Financial Times)”,”reference”:{“matched_text”:””,”prefix”:null,”start_idx”:2801,”end_idx”:2832,”safe_urls”:[“https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/08/31/spain-s-prime-minister-blames-networks-linked-to-russia-and-israel-for-spreading-fake-news-about-ceuta-migration-crisis”,”https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/08/31/spain-s-prime-minister-blames-networks-linked-to-russia-and-israel-for-spreading-fake-news-about-ceuta-migration-crisis?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”https://www.ft.com/content/306358c2-3597-40dd-b2cd-534073c35fde”,”https://www.ft.com/content/306358c2-3597-40dd-b2cd-534073c35fde?utm_source=chatgpt.com”],”refs”:[],”alt”:”(Financial Times)”,”prompt_text”:null,”type”:”grouped_webpages”,”status”:”done”,”style”:null,”fallback_items”:null,”error”:null,”items”:[{“title”:”Spain’s Sánchez accuses Russia and Israel of inflaming migrant crisis”,”url”:”https://www.ft.com/content/306358c2-3597-40dd-b2cd-534073c35fde?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”attribution”:”Financial Times”,”pub_date”:1788179304.384,”snippet”:”Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has accused Russia and Israel of fueling discord surrounding a severe migrant crisis in Ceuta, a Spanish exclave in North Africa. In late July, over 70,000 migrants entered the enclave from Morocco in a single day, spurred by misinformation, including a misinterpreted Spanish Supreme Court ruling suggesting they could not be deported immediately. Sánchez claimed Russian and Israeli social media accounts amplified false information, though he offered no concrete evidence. The crisis has led to unrest in Ceuta, with at least 82 deaths reported, and has drawn heavy domestic criticism. The EU has identified Russian disinformation activity post-crisis onset but did not find evidence of encouragement for the migration wave or confirm Israeli involvement. Israel and Russia have denied the accusations, calling them baseless. The incident has deepened EU divisions over immigration policy, sparking border control tensions between Spain and Italy. Sánchez urged EU solidarity in handling the crisis, framing it as a broader attack on the Union.”,”attribution_segments”:null,”supporting_websites”:[{“title”:”Spain’s prime minister blames networks linked to Russia and Israel for spreading fake news about Ceuta migration crisis — Meduza”,”url”:”https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/08/31/spain-s-prime-minister-blames-networks-linked-to-russia-and-israel-for-spreading-fake-news-about-ceuta-migration-crisis?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”pub_date”:null,”snippet”:””,”attribution”:”Meduza”}],”refs”:[{“turn_index”:0,”ref_type”:”news”,”ref_index”:20},{“turn_index”:0,”ref_type”:”search”,”ref_index”:3}],”hue”:null,”attributions”:null}]},”showLoginRequiredCard”:false}
The crisis also raises broader questions about the power of social media. In today’s digital world, misinformation can spread across borders within minutes. During a crisis involving migration, security, and political tension, false information can have real-world consequences. People may make dangerous decisions based on information they see online, while governments can face public anger and international pressure as a result.
Another important aspect of the crisis is its humanitarian cost. The mass crossing resulted in numerous deaths and left thousands of migrants in Ceuta. Around 5,000 migrants were still reported to be in the territory at the end of August, creating pressure on local authorities and increasing tensions among residents. {“fallbackMarkdown”:”(Financial Times)”,”reference”:{“matched_text”:””,”prefix”:null,”start_idx”:3587,”end_idx”:3617,”safe_urls”:[“https://www.ft.com/content/306358c2-3597-40dd-b2cd-534073c35fde”,”https://www.ft.com/content/306358c2-3597-40dd-b2cd-534073c35fde?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/31/morocco-ceuta-border-breach-spanish-pm-migration-pedro-sanchez”,”https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/31/morocco-ceuta-border-breach-spanish-pm-migration-pedro-sanchez?utm_source=chatgpt.com”],”refs”:[],”alt”:”(Financial Times)”,”prompt_text”:null,”type”:”grouped_webpages”,”status”:”done”,”style”:null,”fallback_items”:null,”error”:null,”items”:[{“title”:”Spain’s Sánchez accuses Russia and Israel of inflaming migrant crisis”,”url”:”https://www.ft.com/content/306358c2-3597-40dd-b2cd-534073c35fde?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”attribution”:”Financial Times”,”pub_date”:1788179304.384,”snippet”:”Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has accused Russia and Israel of fueling discord surrounding a severe migrant crisis in Ceuta, a Spanish exclave in North Africa. In late July, over 70,000 migrants entered the enclave from Morocco in a single day, spurred by misinformation, including a misinterpreted Spanish Supreme Court ruling suggesting they could not be deported immediately. Sánchez claimed Russian and Israeli social media accounts amplified false information, though he offered no concrete evidence. The crisis has led to unrest in Ceuta, with at least 82 deaths reported, and has drawn heavy domestic criticism. The EU has identified Russian disinformation activity post-crisis onset but did not find evidence of encouragement for the migration wave or confirm Israeli involvement. Israel and Russia have denied the accusations, calling them baseless. The incident has deepened EU divisions over immigration policy, sparking border control tensions between Spain and Italy. Sánchez urged EU solidarity in handling the crisis, framing it as a broader attack on the Union.”,”attribution_segments”:null,”supporting_websites”:[{“title”:”Morocco not to blame for Ceuta border breach, says Spanish PM”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/31/morocco-ceuta-border-breach-spanish-pm-migration-pedro-sanchez?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”pub_date”:null,”snippet”:”Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated there is no evidence implicating Morocco in the massive migrant border breach into Ceuta at the end of July, which resulted in approximately 141 deaths and the crossing of about 70,000 people. The incident triggered a political and humanitarian crisis and rekindled EU immigration tensions. Despite speculation linking the breach to Spanish-Algerian diplomatic shifts, Sánchez emphasized positive cooperation with Morocco and the absence of intelligence agency suspicions. He accused Russia, Israel, and far-right groups of spreading disinformation to exploit the crisis, drawing sharp rebuttals from Israeli and Russian officials. Sánchez attributed the influx to criminal gangs spreading false claims regarding Spanish deportation policies. Currently, around 5,000 migrants, including 1,200 minors, remain in Ceuta, leading to public unrest and clashes. Spain’s opposition criticized Sánchez’s handling of the situation, describing it as a failure to maintain public order. Sánchez assured that accommodation would soon be arranged for the remaining migrants and called for cooperation to resolve the crisis.”,”thumbnail_url”:”https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-1/czibRu1dgWL-8ipGNL9rO1pxNaaMm1iB6hnHgbjClh7oVcOcwm5s3_cgFvQiB_cZfS8tvdWMyrACSLZiFj6_niUDnE8nHDiZfo_0SA4vkW77PzPcEHC0EVWg3F9HzozX5O2OKTvrXfSZxxQsMFOetK6juCMZnvwX8cvE3jbLb9qpVL3a8tTMp1lK-JhA9sGCl_OGTCalXXxdlQuKx-mnwwhEkuD7EYnnbZK15mj7zz1wOi991mR729INkU8BCshjDPLKlQ6c5FAjAfmin0DafdQT6GAKrC12gRzuGtpmshpXc7njMEvAzxIvxNqSc7Qsk4-ckPC9TqUPiNuGqtvVv5ASjwievv9iEVAKGnc8vAZIJze5L6UjKFcnwUul15NKx7PxBs9VZlV5Dy6uTeSQPKAQv8ZxiWicsSMIuzeAX3GdGYtHmZhoIgQEZTkw6R5C4U_qf_Hq53mDkvbukel2sayv9dJRoqZNkeEG5uqUXMP8IK9MqRHbLXd_uBBUlmUI”,”attribution”:”The Guardian”}],”refs”:[{“turn_index”:0,”ref_type”:”news”,”ref_index”:20},{“turn_index”:0,”ref_type”:”news”,”ref_index”:23}],”hue”:null,”attributions”:null}]},”showLoginRequiredCard”:false}
In conclusion, the Ceuta crisis demonstrates how migration, geopolitics, and misinformation can become closely connected. Pedro Sánchez’s accusations against Russia and Israel have added an international dimension to an already serious domestic crisis. However, accusations should be carefully investigated before they are treated as established facts. The most important lesson is that governments, media organizations, and social media users all have a responsibility to verify information and prevent misinformation from turning a difficult humanitarian situation into an even greater political conflict.
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