EXPLAINED: Did Sánchez's War With Trump & Netanyahu Break Spain's Ceuta?

By Times Now World

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Spain just picked a fight with Israel and the US. Days later, its most vulnerable border collapsed — and Morocco knew exactly what it was doing. What You Need to Know: The trigger: A July 8, 2026 Spanish Supreme Court ruling banned "hot returns" for migrants who swim into Ceuta instead of climbing the border fence — creating a legal loophole smuggling networks exploited within hours. The numbers: Between 2,000–3,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta in late July 2026; at least 9 people drowned attempting the crossing. The pattern: This mirrors May 2021, when Morocco loosened border controls and let roughly 8,000 migrants cross in 48 hours after a diplomatic dispute with Spain — a tactic experts call "migration diplomacy." The isolation: Since 2023, Spain has recognized Palestine, passed a total arms embargo on Israel, downgraded diplomatic relations with Israel, and refused the US access to military bases at Rota and Morón — drawing direct criticism from President Trump. The legal gray zon

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