Is Ceuta a U.S. and Israel Revenge on Spain? Weaponising Migration as a Proxy War

The sudden mass crossing into Spain’s North African enclave raises questions that Europe cannot afford to dismiss as merely another migration crisis. The timing, Morocco’s behavior, and the growing strategic alignment between Rabat, Washington, and Tel Aviv point to something potentially more consequential: the weaponization of migration as an instrument of geopolitical pressure against Spain — and, by extension, against the European Union itself. In the end, it resulted in a political crisis within the EU.

What happened in Ceuta — and why the numbers matter

Within roughly 24 hours, tens of thousands of people entered the Spanish enclave, with estimates ranging from around 50,000 according to Spanish authorities to approximately 60,000 in reports cited by the international press. Given Ceuta’s population of roughly 87,000, the influx represented an extraordinary shock to a territory of its size. The Spanish government deployed military personnel and armoured vehicles as local security forces struggled to contain the situation.

The most revealing statistics, however, came afterwards. Within roughly a day, more than 48,000 people had already returned to Morocco. Many migrants themselves said they had discovered that there was little or nothing waiting for them in Ceuta: no accommodation, food, work, or realistic route into continental Spain.

This is precisely what makes the episode so unusual. A spontaneous migration movement normally develops over time, driven by economic distress, conflict, or established smuggling routes. Here, thousands appeared to converge almost simultaneously after rumours spread through social media that the border was effectively open.

Several migrants told journalists that Moroccan police had encouraged them to cross. One described officers allegedly telling people to “enter Spain.” Other testimonies suggested that the border suddenly became permissive before Moroccan forces later re-established control. Morocco denies deliberately facilitating the movement, and Madrid itself has not formally accused Rabat of orchestrating it.

But that leaves the central question unanswered: how does a heavily fortified border suddenly cease functioning?

From migration crisis to geopolitical weapon

The timing is impossible to ignore.

Over the past two years, Pedro Sánchez’s government has become one of Europe’s most outspoken critics of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. Spain recognised Palestine, recalled its ambassador to Israel, imposed measures targeting Israeli settlement activity, and moved towards a permanent arms embargo. Madrid also refused to facilitate certain U.S. military operations connected with Israel and, more recently, connected with the confrontation with Iran,........

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