The recent mass incursion of nearly 80,000 plus “migrants” into Spain’s enclave of Ceuta represents a calculated act of “migration blackmail” by Morocco, designed primarily to punish the Spanish government for its staunchly anti-Israel foreign policy.

The circumstantial evidence points to a coordinated U.S.-Israeli-Moroccan campaign. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been a leading European critic of Israel, imposing arms embargoes, blocking Israeli and U.S. military ships from Spanish ports, and refusing to support the war on Iran. This has made him a target.

This operation mirrors 2021, when Morocco relaxed border controls to force Spain to support its claim over Western Sahara—a demand backed by the U.S. and Israel. This time, Israeli and U.S. officials have seized the opportunity to intensify pressure. Israel’s UN ambassador mocked Spain’s “colonial enclaves,” while U.S. voices encouraged Morocco to claim Ceuta.

The timing and rhetoric suggest the “migrant” wave was not merely a border crisis but a deliberate act of retaliation. By weaponizing migration, Morocco—supported by its allies—has exacted a heavy political price on Spain for its principled stance against Israeli policies.