Portugal Says Ceuta Surge Never Threatened Schengen

Sánchez has blamed trafficking gangs and online misinformation, not the Moroccan state. "I can assure you that no institution – not the diplomatic service nor the European Commission nor any international body – has provided the Spanish government with any solid evidence that Morocco planned or carried out the incident. None whatsoever," he told parliament on Sept. 3, according to Al Jazeera. He added that Spanish authorities had not determined whether Moroccan inaction was a choice or an inability to hold the line.

Morocco has denied orchestrating or taking part in the mass crossing, the BBC reported.

The opposition is not buying it. "A Spanish city has been invaded, occupied and, unfortunately, this happened with the knowledge of the Government of Spain," Partido Popular leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo said at the Madrid rally, per the BBC. Vox leader Santiago Abascal said Sánchez was "at the service, like a lackey, of the Moroccan regime."

In Ceuta itself, marchers chanted "Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta must be defended." David Hernandez, a 45-year-old teacher, told Reuters: "The response has been inadequate, late and, to top it all, has involved a complete dereliction of duty on the part of the government. We cannot be second-class citizens, and our border must not be sidelined."

Spain's government says right-wing parties are exploiting the crisis, the BBC reported.

Writing for Project Syndicate, former Spanish foreign minister Ana Palacio argued EU leaders should take three lessons from Ceuta: that cohesion without trust is fragile, that dependence without limits creates vulnerability, and that selective enforcement of international law erodes a pillar of Europe's strategic identity. In UnHerd, Miquel Vila argued that Sánchez's response is weakening the Spanish state.