Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has stated there is "no evidence whatsoever" that Morocco planned or facilitated the unprecedented mass border breach into the Spanish territory of Ceuta in late July. Speaking before parliament on Thursday, Sánchez addressed the incident that saw an estimated 70,000 people cross into the North African enclave.

This assertion comes amidst reports of a police document, purportedly commissioned by a judge, claiming Moroccan border forces actively assisted in the influx of migrants. Sánchez, however, directly refuted these claims, emphasizing that neither Spanish institutions, the European Commission, nor any international bodies have presented the government with "solid evidence" of Moroccan involvement.

The prime minister's remarks followed a large protest in Madrid the previous day, where approximately 50,000 people demonstrated against the government's handling of the Ceuta crisis. Sánchez also denied that the government had received any prior warnings that could have anticipated the scale and probability of the event.

Sánchez has consistently defended Morocco's role throughout the crisis, particularly highlighting Rabat's cooperation in repatriating most of the migrants in the immediate aftermath. However, he revealed that Spain had summoned Morocco's ambassador on August 21st due to "unacceptable statements" made by two Moroccan ministers regarding the status of Ceuta and Melilla, another Spanish territory in North Africa.

Last month, Morocco's justice minister, Abdellatif Ouahbi, publicly reaffirmed Rabat's sovereignty claims over these cities. Sánchez indicated that while he has "for now" ruled out direct Moroccan government involvement, he acknowledged that Moroccan forces had permitted crossings to occur during the period of the surge.

The situation in Ceuta has been a significant diplomatic and humanitarian challenge for Spain. The sheer volume of people crossing the border, many of them minors, overwhelmed local resources and sparked intense debate about border security and migration policies.

Human rights organizations and international bodies have expressed concerns about the conditions faced by migrants and the potential for pushbacks. The Spanish government has been under pressure to balance its security concerns with its humanitarian obligations.

This ongoing situation continues to be a focal point for discussions on European Union border management and the complex relationship between Spain and Morocco, particularly concerning migration and territorial disputes.