Spain denies evidence Morocco orchestrated Ceuta mass crossing

Spain’s minister for the presidency, justice, and relations with parliament, Félix Bolaños, denied that there is any evidence proving Morocco led or encouraged the mass crossing into Ceuta on July 30. He accused the Popular Party and Vox of promoting “claims and suspicions” that harm a neighboring country with which cooperation must be maintained.

Bolaños set out his position on Thursday during an appearance before the Joint National Security Committee in the Congress of Deputies, where he faced criticism from the opposition, and even from some of the government’s allies, over Madrid’s silence regarding Rabat’s possible role in the events.

Cuca Gamarra of the Popular Party accused the government of seeking to avoid angering Morocco, asking what it “owes” Rabat. Pepa Millán, Vox’s spokesperson, said the executive was being “held hostage to blackmail,” accusing Morocco of using migration as part of a “hybrid war.” Bolaños responded that such accusations lacked evidence, urging the two parties to observe the “basic rules of diplomacy.”

Representatives of Sumar, Compromís, and EH Bildu also criticized the government’s stance and called for clarification on why Moroccan border controls were eased shortly before the wave of crossings. The Basque Nationalist Party questioned why Morocco had “abandoned” surveillance in the hours leading up to the events, and why it is currently refusing to repatriate the bodies of the victims.

Bolaños stressed that Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish cities, insisting that he had not discussed their status during his meetings with Morocco’s justice minister. He also warned against rhetoric describing what happened as an “invasion” and fueling xenophobia.