Politicians to both his left and right point to what they say is Morocco’s track record of using the border with Spain as leverage when it has a grievance.
Many have interpreted the police report pointing to the role of Moroccan security forces in the July crossing as reinforcing this theory, although Sánchez maintained there was no solid evidence of government involvement.
The report, commissioned by a High Court judge, said security forces had “made no serious attempt” to stop the influx and quoted some migrants saying Moroccan gendarmes had even provided guidance.
Responding to the revelations, as well as media reports before the influx, Feijóo told MPs that the crisis had “originated in Morocco, was consented to by Morocco and there are indications that Morocco co-ordinated it and the government knew because it had been warned about it”.
Morocco has denied orchestrating or being involved in the mass crossing.
Sánchez said King Felipe VI would visit Ceuta and Melilla in the coming weeks to convey Spain’s commitment to the two cities, although officials say no date has been set.
He praised the response of Ceuta police who had chosen to “defend human life” when the influx took place, rather than defend the border. He also highlighted close co-operation with Moroccan authorities over the return of more than 90% of the migrants in the following 72 hours.
He addressed the “difficult times” faced by the residents of Ceuta, as he explained the “complexity” of what had happened on 30 and 31 July.
He spoke of an “episode in which numerous actors and interests converge”, doubling down on his assertion that hoaxes and rumours spread by social media had sparked the crisis.
He has already blamed trafficking gangs and angered Russia and Israel for highlighting social media linked to both countries along with “an international far-right movement”. He told MPs that there was no evidence of state actors being involved but doubled down on his allegations of accounts linked to the two countries.
Ceuta was “a humanitarian crisis and also an administrative challenge within the city itself”, he added.
