Ceuta Migration Crisis and the Already Cold Spain-Israel Relations

Spain says it has regained control of the situation in the North African city of Ceuta, as most of the more than 50,000 migrants who poured across the border in recent days have voluntarily returned to Morocco.

Tens of thousands of people entered Ceuta starting on Thursday, with more arriving overnight into Friday. Most came by sea, swimming or using small boats to bypass the border fence. Some surged through border checkpoints, overwhelming guards. At least 67 people died trying to reach Ceuta.

Many questions remain about what prompted such a massive and sudden attempt to enter Spanish territory illegally. Clearly, the migrants did not all choose the same day by coincidence. Was there coordination or advance planning, and if so, by whom and for what purpose?

Where is Ceuta and why does it matter?

Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city on the northern coast of Africa, bordering Morocco. Along with Melilla, it is one of the only two land borders between the European Union and Africa.

The city was under Portuguese rule from 1415 before becoming part of Spain in 1580. After the decolonization of Africa, Ceuta and Melilla are the only remaining territories controlled by a European power on the African mainland.

Its location makes it one of the main entry points for migrants and asylum seekers trying to reach Europe. The territory is protected by high border fences, surveillance systems, and a permanent presence of the Civil Guard and the Spanish National Police.

Why the sudden influx?

The Ceuta authorities link the surge in border crossings to a ruling by Spain's Supreme Court issued in July, which barred the administration from immediately expelling migrants who arrive by sea. The ruling does not apply to those entering by land, including climbing over the border fence.

However, many experts doubt this theory, arguing that few migrants would be aware of the court ruling. Journalist Ignacio Cembrero, who specializes in North African migration, told AFP that the ruling played a role but does not explain the scale of the mobilization.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez blamed people-smuggling networks for exaggerating the significance of the ruling to convince migrants to join the coordinated border surge.

Some believe Morocco may have played a role in organizing and facilitating the mass crossing. Morocco does not recognize Madrid's sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla, considering them occupied territories.

Morocco also claims sovereignty over Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony annexed by Morocco in 1975, whose indigenous people, represented by the Polisario Front, oppose Rabat's rule and seek independence.

In April 2021, Madrid allowed Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali to receive COVID-19 treatment at a Spanish hospital, angering Morocco. Rabat recalled its ambassador and relaxed border controls in May, allowing around 10,000 migrants into Ceuta as a threat.

In 2022, Spain restored full diplomatic relations with Morocco after reversing its policy of supporting self-determination for the Sahrawi people, instead backing Morocco's sovereignty. Last month, Madrid-Rabat ties deteriorated again when Sanchez made an official visit to Algeria, a country Morocco views as an enemy due to its support for the Polisario.

Some speculate that recent events show Morocco continues to send warnings to Spain.

What does Israel have to do with it?

Some observers suggest that if Morocco is behind the incident, it may have been encouraged by two leaders who harbor animosity toward Sanchez – U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sanchez is one of Europe's most pro-Palestinian voices. He has called Israel's campaign in Gaza genocide, criticized the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, and refused to allow joint U.S.-Spanish military facilities to serve that campaign. Trump has also criticized Spain for not increasing military spending to meet NATO targets.

Morocco is far more friendly toward Israel than Spain. In 2024, Spain refused to allow a U.S.-flagged ship carrying weapons for Israel to dock at Algeciras, forcing it to reroute to Morocco. That same year, Morocco allowed an Israeli warship to dock at Tangier for fuel on its way from the U.S. back to Israel after Spain refused.

Many Israelis see Madrid's support for Palestine as hypocritical, given that Spain also occupies Arab territory. In 2019, Netanyahu's son Yair posted a map of Ceuta and Melilla with the comment: “Dear Arabs and Muslims. Want to liberate occupied Arab and Muslim lands? This is a good place to start!”

In March this year, an article by Michael Rubin, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, for the Middle East Forum, published on a pro-Israel outlet, called on Moroccans to mobilize, bring bulldozers to the border, and enter Ceuta and Melilla to raise flags. In April, analyst Amine Ayoub wrote on Israel's Ynet News that U.S.-Spain tensions created an opportunity for Morocco to pressure Spain over Ceuta and Melilla, with Israel ready to lend diplomatic support.

On Friday, as Ceuta descended into crisis, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, posted on X: “Spain, which never misses an opportunity to lecture Israel, has declared a state of emergency in Ceuta. Perhaps before it continues lecturing, it should explain why it maintains colonial territories in Africa.”

Spain's Transport Minister Oscar Puente commented: “Everything is becoming clearer,” implying Israeli involvement.

Pro-Israel sentiment is rising in Morocco as diplomatic ties with both Israel and the U.S. deepen. Days ago, Morocco renamed a 1,055-kilometer highway through Western Sahara after Trump. Experts say this is understandable: Morocco was one of the signatories of the Abraham Accords brokered by Trump, normalizing relations with Israel in 2020. In return, the Trump administration supported Morocco at the UN and bilaterally.

There is no evidence yet that Morocco acted in Ceuta for Israeli interests, only many curious coincidences. But whether or not there is a plot, one clear consequence is that the already cold relations between Sanchez's left-wing government and Netanyahu's far-right government have grown even colder.