RABAT, 03 August. - (ANA) - Morocco has blamed online misinformation, human trafficking networks and confusion over Spanish migration policy for the mass rush towards the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week, breaking its silence over a crisis that has deepened tensions with Madrid and rattled European governments.

 

In its first official statement since tens of thousands of people attempted to reach the North African territory, Morocco's Interior Ministry rejected suggestions that authorities had deliberately allowed the crossings, instead pointing to "malicious exploitation" of social media by traffickers and the spread of misleading information encouraging migrants to make the journey.

 

It also blamed "misinterpretations of legal provisions", an apparent reference to Spain's Supreme Court which ruled recently that migrants who arrive in the country be sea should not be deported as quickly as others.

 

The ministry said the 11 people died trying to reach the territory, 10 of whom drowned in the Mediterranean. Another died after falling on a rocky area. This is sharply lower than the figure provided by Spanish officials, who on Monday updated their death toll to 88.

 

The Moroccan ministry said around 40,000 people had attempted to enter Ceuta, and more than 1,000 others had tried to cross into Melilla, another Spanish exclave bordering Morocco.

 

Spanish authorities say that almost all the migrants have now been returned to Morocco.

 

Spanish politicians and commentators have also accused Israel of fuelling the crisis in a bid to undermine Spain's left-wing, pro-Palestinian government.

 

European governments responded to the chaos by condemning Spain, with several backing a proposal to temporarily suspend it from the Schengen Area.

 

The EU will hold an emergency summit on Tuesday after 22 Schengen countries issued a joint letter accusing Spain of undermining the bloc's border security.

 

Michele LeVoy, director of the European refugee NGO PICUM, accused governments of playing "political games" ahead of the meeting.

 

"What happened in and around Ceuta is fundamentally the result of Europe's inaction on decent work permits and other regular pathways and the dismantling of its asylum systems," she said.  - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/03 August 2026 - - -