Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has accused social media networks linked to Israel and Russia of spreading misinformation that helped fuel the crisis culminating in the sudden mass arrival of approximately 80,000 mostly Moroccan and sub-Saharan African migrants in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta (population 83,000) on 30 and 31 July. Madrid says some 5,000 remain in the city on the North African coast, although other estimates put the number considerably higher.

Like other EU leaders, Sánchez has consistently opposed Russia’s war in Ukraine. But he has gone much further than most in his criticism of Israel, repeatedly describing its actions in Gaza as ‘genocide’. Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, described Sánchez’s latest accusation as a ‘brazen lie’. He added:

Continuing to spread defamatory lies will not distract from Sánchez’s disgraceful failure to manage his country’s affairs.

Continuing to spread defamatory lies will not distract from Sánchez’s disgraceful failure to manage his country’s affairs.

Sánchez has meanwhile dismissed claims that Morocco played a part in organising the massive influx at the end of July. Ceuta borders Morocco, which disputes Spanish sovereignty over the territory. Sánchez insists that cooperation with Rabat has been positive.

Ceuta has now added another charge to the opposition’s indictment: incompetence

Ceuta has........

© The Spectator