More than 50,000 people protested in Madrid on Wednesday against the Spanish government's response to a recent influx of migrants from Morocco. Demonstrations also occurred in other cities across Spain, reflecting widespread anger over Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's handling of the crisis.
The protests were fueled by the arrival of over 70,000 foreign migrants into Spain in late July, with thousands remaining in the country. Protesters carried signs with slogans such as "A united Ceuta will never be defeated," "Sánchez to prison," and "Invaders — go home!"
Ceuta's regional leader, Juan Jesús Vivas, described the situation not as a migratory crisis but as a "violation of Spain's territorial integrity." The demonstrations followed incidents last week where residents in Ceuta reportedly tore down and burned makeshift migrant shelters. Protesters carrying Spanish flags moved toward beachside migrant camps, destroying shelters and setting fires while police attempted to maintain separation.
Prime Minister Sanchez has attributed the surge to a misinterpretation of a Spanish Supreme Court ruling and suggested that Russian and Israeli networks amplified the crisis through social media disinformation. He cited research by the European External Action Service indicating the involvement of these networks alongside far-right groups.
Russian officials have denied involvement, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stating there was "nothing to talk about" without factual evidence. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Sanchez of "lying shamelessly" and attempting to deflect from domestic policy failures.