Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed before Parliament on Thursday that Ceuta and Melilla are “Spanish cities forever,” at a time when the repercussions of the migration crisis that Ceuta witnessed in July continue, and have brought tensions between Madrid and Rabat back to the forefront. Sanchez defended his government's handling of the influx of tens of thousands of migrants, denying at the same time the existence of evidence proving that Morocco planned or orchestrated this operation, while questions continue in Spain about the causes of the crisis and the possible role of the Moroccan authorities in it.

Published on: 09/03/2026 - 08:56 Last updated: 09/03/2026 - 11:11

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In a speech to Parliament on Thursday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stressed that “Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish cities forever.”

The speech comes in the wake of demonstrations in which thousands of residents of Ceuta, the Spanish enclave located in North Africa, participated in protest against Madrid's handling of the migration crisis resulting from the influx of migrants across the border last July, when at least 72,000 people crossed from Morocco.

On the other hand, the Spanish Prime Minister criticized statements made by two Moroccan ministers regarding the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, describing them as "unacceptable."

Sanchez denies Morocco's involvement in the influx of migrants out of spite

Sanchez said: “We heard two ministers making unacceptable statements regarding Ceuta and Melilla, and we rejected them categorically,” adding that his country summoned the Moroccan ambassador to Madrid on August 21 against the backdrop of these statements. He added: "In protest against these comments."

On the other hand, he denied that Morocco was behind the events in Ceuta, saying: “Spain does not see evidence that the wave of migrants crossing from Morocco into the Ceuta enclave in July, which witnessed deaths, was planned or implemented by the Moroccan authorities.”

He continued, stressing: “No agency or international organization has provided the Spanish government with strong evidence proving that Morocco planned or orchestrated” the influx of migrants that Ceuta witnessed in late July.

Read also a Spanish police report that talks about the “negligence” of Moroccan security forces in dealing with the influx of migrants to Ceuta

The issue of Morocco's role in these events has been at the forefront of discussions in Spain for a month, amid questions that were further reinforced on Wednesday after a police report was leaked to the media, which specifically referred to the "leniency" of the Moroccan security forces in dealing with the sudden influx of migrants.

Pedro Sanchez recounted the facts according to a specific chronological sequence, noting that on July 30, “the Moroccan gendarmerie allowed the crossing of the border within 10 hours,” adding that Spain preferred to deal “humanely” with those who came across the sea, with the aim of avoiding tragedy or drowning of the passers-by.

“We were able to return more than 50,000 migrants to Morocco.”

He said: "We had to defend human lives, and this is a very important matter. I confirm that the security forces did everything that was right. They dealt wisely and democratically, and we should be proud of that."

Meanwhile, Sanchez reviewed all the measures taken by the Spanish forces to stop the flow of migrants, most notably strengthening the borders with neighboring European countries, placing a sea barrier on the coast, as well as deploying additional, fast military boats to prevent any “new crossings.”

In this regard, he said: “In less than 24 hours, we were able to return more than 50,000 migrants to Morocco, which is equivalent to 90 percent, and it is the largest deportation operation that occurred in Europe in history.”

He also announced the sending of 500 additional policemen and soldiers to Ceuta at the height of the crisis, increasing the number of patrols, and raising medical and health supplies, especially regarding minor migrants.

Regarding the slowdown in returning migrants to the place they came from, Sanchez said: “We cannot treat someone as a sack and throw him in the other direction. Spain is a great democracy, and we are a socialist country, which means that there are a series of international procedures and obligations that we must act according to, and do things with dignity and respect.”

Strengthening the borders with water cameras to monitor any crossing

Sanchez answered three questions: Could Spain have avoided this crisis? The second question: Who is the cause of this crisis? What should the government do in the future?

Regarding the first question, Sanchez answered, saying: “The government has taken several measures, such as increasing maritime monitoring and deploying new naval boats, but we did not expect 72,000 people to cross in just two days.”

As for the second question, the Spanish Prime Minister confirmed that there are many factors behind this migration, including the special decision issued by the Spanish Supreme Court not to deport immigrants, in addition to “the negative role played by social media sites, some countries, and the mafia.”

Finally, Sanchez promised to "strengthen the borders and raise the budget, while building a preventive sea barrier and providing the police with underwater cameras and new boats," inviting King Felipe VI to visit the cities of Ceuta and Melilla.

France 24

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