Spain accuses Israel of weaponising Ceuta crisis to punish Madrid for Gaza solidarity

Diplomatic tensions between Spain and Israel over the Gaza genocide have increasingly spilt onto social media, with the migration crisis in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta emerging as the latest flashpoint after an exchange of barbs between Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon and Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente.

Danon accused Spain on Friday of repeatedly criticising Israel while declaring a state of emergency in Ceuta over a migration crisis.

“Spain, which never misses an opportunity to lecture Israel, has declared a state of emergency in Ceuta following the crisis over its immigration policy,” Danon wrote on X.

“Maybe before it continues lecturing us, it’s time it explained to the world why it still maintains colonial enclaves in Africa,” he added, referring to the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast.

Quoting Danon’s post on X, Puente responded: “Well, it all seems to be becoming quite clear.”

Israel’s role

While the minister did not elaborate, his remark was widely interpreted as a response to Danon’s criticism and came amid growing political debate in Spain over the migration crisis and Israel’s role in regional politics.

The online exchange followed comments by Spanish political commentator Carolina Alonso, who alleged that Israel was seeking to undermine Spain’s government in retaliation for Madrid’s stance on Gaza genocide.

Sharing a post about calls by some Italian politicians to suspend Spain from the Schengen Area, Alonso claimed the effort was being carried out “through Morocco, with the support of Israel,” as well as Spain’s and Europe’s far right.