Spain cites “reactionary” groups and fake news on immigration in Ceuta

“There was also a synchronized response from the reactionary international, which very quickly amplified what was happening and spread lies and false news about the integrity of the Schengen Area [which allows the free movement of people in the European Union] and about Spain's actions”, said the Spanish chancellor, this Monday (3), in an interview with the RTVE channel.

Albares argues that there was “very unusual” activity on social media that distorted a ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court. The decision changed the rules for dealing with irregular immigrants who swim into the country, prohibiting summary deportation.

According to the minister, they used the court's decision to spread false news that it would be possible to immigrate to Spain without the possibility of deportation, which is false.

"We need to monitor social media and combat disinformation, which has been the key element in triggering this unprecedented movement. The reaction we have seen on social media from the international reactionary movement needs to be combatted clearly", added the chancellor.

He demanded solidarity from Europe, remembering that the cities of Ceuta and Melilla are the only cities in the European Union that share a land border with Africa.

During the interview, minister José Manuel Albares criticized Italy, which has defended expelling Spain from the Schengen Area.

The events in Ceuta have been used to reinforce the case for a stricter anti-immigration policy in Europe. The government of United States President Donald Trump even blamed Spain's policies for “facilitating mass illegal immigration to Europe”.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Danny Danon, called the cities of Ceuta and Mellila a “colonial enclave in Africa”.

Israel's charge d'affaires in Spain, Dana Erlich, had to go public and say that Danon's comment “does not represent the position of the State of Israel”.

The Spanish government has accumulated political and diplomatic friction with Washington and Tel Aviv for opposing the US and Israeli war against Iran, and also for Madrid's critical stance in relation to Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories.