Pro-Israel Spanish network spreads false Ceuta invasion claims and anti-government rhetoric
The Spanish-language network Estrategias Militares, which boasts hundreds of thousands of followers, is pushing alarmist, pro-Israel narratives that portray the Ceuta migration surge as a Moroccan military invasion and accuse Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of treason.
Estrategias Militares, a Spanish-language digital network with about 560,000 YouTube subscribers and tens of thousands of followers on X and Telegram, has built a two-pronged propaganda line: overt support for Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and a hostile portrayal of Spain’s response to the Ceuta migration influx. It alleges that Morocco is conducting a "military invasion" of Ceuta and Melilla, inflating migrant numbers far beyond official statistics, and accuses Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of treason and of planning to surrender the enclaves.
The channel calls for street protests and the removal of the government, even invoking King Felipe VI. Its founder claims financing comes from YouTube and Twitch revenue, commercial collaborations and follower donations, and denies direct funding from Israeli NGOs or the state, though he acknowledges occasional IDF spokesperson appearances. Analysts such as Marcelino Madrigal and Iago Moreno describe the operation as a disinformation infrastructure that amplifies Israeli-aligned narratives and far-right messages during a security crisis, noting its ties to groups like ACOM and propagandist Javier Negre.
Why it matters
The campaign shows how online disinformation can inflame migration debates and undermine trust in democratic institutions.
How this story developed
- Aug 21 Spanish police detain five suspected migrant smugglers operating from Ceuta
- Aug 27 Authorities have detained five individuals suspected of running the Ceuta‑to‑mainland smuggling operation.
- Aug 28 Residents dismantled tents on El Trampolín beach and set them on fire.
- Aug 28 Spain’s interior minister asked Frontex for ten additional officers to assist with screening the migrants still in Ceuta.
- Aug 31 Four Moroccan migrants were arrested for throwing stones at a Spanish soldiers’ patrol.
- Aug 31 Italy imposed temporary border checks on Spanish travelers.
- Sep 1 Sánchez accused Russian and Israeli‑linked online networks of spreading disinformation about the Ceuta crossing.
- Sep 3 Sánchez announced that Spain lacks proof of Moroccan involvement in the July border surge.
- Sep 3 Spain delayed EU financial and operational assistance to Ceuta pending further information from the European Commission.
- Sep 4 Sources close to the government say the Ceuta situation has amplified existing tensions, turning private grievances into public blame. Ministers accuse Marlaska of losing control of his department and being unaware of key information, while Robles is charged with leaking or pre-empting sensitive data from other ministries. President Pedro Sánchez’s recent parliamentary appearance highlighted the missing intelligence alerts, further intensifying the scramble over responsibility.
- Sep 4 Sánchez declared the borders open amid the influx, prompting opposition leaders to demand his resignation.
- Sep 4 Sánchez stated in parliament that Spain has not received solid evidence that Morocco orchestrated the July Ceuta migrant surge.
- Sep 4 EU officials discussed emergency funding for Spain in response to the Ceuta influx.
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