Protesters in Ceuta set fire to a migrant camp and clashed with police after a mass influx of migrants from Morocco. Over 72,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave between July 30 and 31, prompting alarm across the EU.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Aug 31 there were signs Russia and Israel had spread disinformation about Spain’s migration policy, but no evidence of Moroccan involvement. Social media videos spread misleading claims that migrants could remain in Spain, encouraging thousands to attempt the crossing.
Sánchez announced additional funding to reactivate Ceuta’s economy and address the crisis. The situation has deepened political divisions in Spain, with the conservative opposition calling for a tougher stance on migration. The crisis has also raised tensions within the EU over how to respond to the situation in Ceuta.