Locals torch migrant shelters as Spain’s PM points blame beyond the border

Residents in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta have destroyed and burned makeshift migrant shelters amid escalating tensions following a massive influx of migrants from neighboring Morocco. According to Spanish broadcaster RTVE and news agency EFE, protesters carrying Spanish flags advanced toward beachside camps, chanting for the expulsion of migrants. The unrest follows an unprecedented surge in late July, during which over 72,000 migrants crossed into the enclave, with local authorities reporting at least 100 deaths during the transit.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez alleged on Monday that research by the European External Action Service indicates that Russian and Israeli-linked networks, alongside far-right groups, participated in a disinformation campaign. Sánchez claimed these actors used social media to spread misleading information about Spanish immigration law to fuel the crisis, suggesting the actions were retaliation for his government's stance on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. He provided no specific evidence to support these claims.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected the accusation, labeling the Prime Minister a "shameless liar" and suggesting the claims were an attempt to divert attention from domestic policy failures. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also denied any Russian involvement in the migration crisis. While some Spanish opposition parties and human rights groups have accused the Moroccan government of facilitating the surge, Sánchez explicitly denied these allegations, stating he rejects such speculation outright.

Open-source investigations have previously traced activity on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where misleading interpretations of Spanish immigration law and a July Supreme Court ruling were circulated to convince migrants they would be permitted to stay in Spain. As the crisis continues, Italy has extended its suspension of Schengen free-movement arrangements with Spain for an additional 15 days in response to the ongoing situation in Ceuta.