The Spanish government said Friday evening that only 1,800 of the migrants who entered Ceuta from Morocco remain in the enclave, while 48,000 have returned to Morocco. The figure marks a near-complete repatriation of the estimated 60,000 who crossed during the border breach earlier this week.
Friday evening update — The Spanish government announced that only 1,800 migrants remain in the enclave of Ceuta, with 48,000 having returned to Morocco. This marks a near-complete repatriation of the estimated 60,000 people who crossed from Morocco during the border breach earlier this week, as the humanitarian crisis in the Spanish territory enters its final phase.
The crisis began on Thursday, when an estimated 60,000 Moroccan migrants entered Ceuta in a single day, overwhelming local infrastructure. Throughout Friday, repatriation figures climbed rapidly: by midday (10:56 Jerusalem), Spain reported 48,300 returnees; by early afternoon (12:02 Jerusalem), a court ruling blocked the immediate return of migrants arriving by sea, complicating the response. The source quality evolved from unverified field reports to official Spanish government statements, with the 48,300 figure later confirmed by Madrid. The death toll, initially reported as 18, rose to at least 57 by Friday evening (20:48 Jerusalem), though this figure is not directly linked to the repatriation status.
As The Zioneer reported on Friday, the Spanish government assessed that Moroccan border guards may have intentionally withdrawn to facilitate the surge, possibly as diplomatic leverage over Spain's relations with Algeria or the status of Gibraltar. The crisis has drawn international attention, with Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson accusing Europe of misreading security threats.
The fate of the remaining 1,800 migrants in Ceuta remains unclear, as does the legal status of the court ruling blocking sea repatriations. The death toll, while cited by Spanish news agencies, has not been officially confirmed by authorities, and the total number of casualties may still rise.
14 developments
- StrongSpanish residents curse PM Sánchez, blame him for Ceuta migrant crisis
- StrongCeuta crisis: death toll rises to 57, 9-year-old girl missing, 37,000 return to Morocco
- StrongNew court ruling blocks immediate return of migrants to Spain; local governor warns of 'chaos' as influx continues
- DevelopingAbu Ali Express: Spanish police, soldiers not intervening in Ceuta as migrants mock authorities
Source and signal
- Open-source intake