Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that the government has found no evidence that Morocco orchestrated a surge of approximately 70,000 people who crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in late July. During a parliamentary session on Thursday, Sanchez addressed claims made in a police report suggesting that the border rush was planned to overwhelm border controls. "I can assure you that no institution – not the diplomatic service nor the European Commission nor any international body – has provided the Spanish government with any solid evidence that Morocco planned or carried out the incident. None whatsoever," Sanchez said.
He noted that Moroccan police allowed crossings to occur during a peak period of 10 hours on July 30, but Spanish authorities have yet to determine if this was due to inaction or an inability to manage the influx. In late July, around 72,000 individuals swam and rushed into Ceuta, which has a population of 84,000 and borders Morocco.
The police report, commissioned by a High Court judge last month, alleged that Moroccan security forces were deployed in smaller numbers than usual near the border and did not make a serious attempt to disperse the crowds. Moroccan authorities have denied any permissiveness, attributing the situation to a misinterpretation of a Spanish court ruling that seemed to create a legal loophole for arrivals by sea and a social media campaign that spread information about a mass crossing.
Sanchez has defended Morocco during the crisis, emphasizing Rabat’s cooperation in returning most of the migrants within 48 hours. However, approximately 5,000 individuals, including 1,200 children, remain in Ceuta weeks later, according to the national government. On Wednesday, thousands of protesters rallied across Spain against the government's response to the Ceuta crisis, with chants including "Expel the invaders" and "Ceuta is not for sale. Ceuta must be defended."