A conspiracy theory suggesting Israel was behind the surge of approximately 50,000 migrants crossing the border from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has been amplified by several prominent online personalities and commentators. These claims have been met with criticism for lacking evidence and for invoking anti-Israel sentiment.
Hasan Piker, a popular streamer and activist, stated on his Twitch channel that "Israel and America got the Moroccan government to send like 40,000 people into Spanish administered territory." When questioned about the mechanism or motive, Piker reportedly responded, "I dunno, man. It's not my damn fault."
Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, also shared a theory regarding Israel's alleged involvement. Roth posited that Israel, through its influence with Morocco, sought to secure control over the Strait of Gibraltar. According to Roth, this move would prevent potential disruption of Israeli access to the Atlantic, drawing a parallel to Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz. However, this assertion has been fact-checked, noting that Britain, not Spain, controls Gibraltar, and that Iran's actions were a response to US-Israeli military actions, unlike the hypothetical scenario involving Spain and Morocco.
Other figures, including Young Turks host Ana Kasparian and actor Javier Bardem, have also reportedly promoted similar theories. The New York Post article critiquing these claims notes a pattern of unsubstantiated accusations linking Israel to various unrelated events, such as alleged assassination attempts, sports losses, and political candidacies.