49,000 migrants invade Spanish enclave in 24 hours

I would call it an influx of 45,000 people over the space of a few hours from Morocco. It evidently was planned.

I would call an invasion an unwarranted entry by force such as a military attack on a country.

Putin calls his invasion of Poland a special military operation He evidently understands the emotive nature of the word invasion.

Invasion - forceful entry with hostile intent.
Have they entered Ceuta by force? Is their intent to harm the residents?

It's definitely an unwanted influx of people but not an invasion.

This is an area I know, I am horrified, and feel for the residents.

if I could do something, I would

Do you have any ideas at all?

LemonJam

I would call it an influx of 45,000 people over the space of a few hours from Morocco. It evidently was planned.

I would call an invasion an unwarranted entry by force such as a military attack on a country.

Putin calls his invasion of Poland a special military operation He evidently understands the emotive nature of the word invasion.

They broke through the fences by force According to the BBC and other news outlets these migrants stormed into Ceuta.

The BBC is now reporting the numbers to be 60,000.

This was organised, definitely not an influx, reading the information currently available an invasion is a more appropriate term.

You have to remember that the population of Ceuta is ethnically roughly half Spanish and half Moroccan already. There is a small population of Sephardic Jews and Sindhi Hindus.
The history of Ceuta and Mellila is fascinating.

LemonJam Fri 31-Jul-26 15:20:59

'The UK has a democratic political system and the majority of the electorate decides which party, with which manifesto on all the above important issues secures the majority vote.'

In 2024 33.7% of votes cast by 59.7% of the electorate (approximately 1 in 5) decided which party, with which manifesto, was successful. Wonder why there are pockets of 'civil unrest'?

Agree AGAA4- it is an unwanted sudden influx. an invasion is unwarranted, ie with no legal right. But those seeking asylum do have a legal right to do so.

Having said that, this is a diplomatic flashpoint between Spain and Morocco. There have been previous flashpoints and diplomatic crises between Rabat and Madrid. A previous move like this several years ago iwas nterpreted by some as retaliation for Spain's decision to allow a pro independence leader from the disputed Western-Shara region to receive treatment at a Spanish hospital in a a previous diplomatic stand off. Diplomatic negotiations began and the flash point was resolved.

Ceuta is home to a mix of Christians and Muslims, Spanish and Moroccan workers who usually live together in relative harmony. To turn this 45,000 influx back the Spanish authorities will need to discuss and negotiate with Moroccan authorities and resolve whatever is the current diplomatic issue.

Alternatively all 45,000 ( minus the 18 who died, RIP) have the legal right to claim asylum and will need to be precessed.

Why are the families amongst them leaving? I saw a family with 3 young children attempt this dangerous journey. Why are home governments not looking after their people? It makes me think how lucky I must be.

greyfur

*if I could do something, I would*

Do you have any ideas at all?

I have plenty of ideas but not what you have probably got in mind!

I agree with your % David re votes last GE.

M0nica

and we think we have problems!!!!

We have!!!

According to TVE # 1, The Spanish Military has joined in to send back those arrivals.

There wire fence border walls, for lack of a better way to describe the shanty horrendous way in which Ceuta has put a wall to prevent Moroccans from entering. Truly a pathetic measure.

If you can, take a look at TVE-1 Spain.

Galaxy

If the current governments don't police their borders, address the issues, then the populations will vote for governments that will. That is the choice really.

And then people look on in amazement when a right wing government gets into power.

MT62

greyfur

if I could do something, I would

Do you have any ideas at all?

I have plenty of ideas but not what you have probably got in mind!

No problem, let's share.

As everyone could have guessed, many of the 50 000 illegal migrants who crossed into Ceuta and Melilla yesterday spent the night by breaking into homes, looting stores and clashing with the Spanish police (copied from a post on X)

There's a video of them rampaging through the town but I don't know how to post it.

Let's call it what it is an invasion.

MT62

M0nica

and we think we have problems!!!!

We have!!!

We have, and so have very many countries, tho most are larger countries than ours.
I see that even in South Africa black SA’s are in revolt over all the other black African migrants and are literally driving them out.
The indigenous population of any country will only take so much.

Galaxy

I have seen a number of the residents use that term, I assume they are permitted to do that.

They probably feel like they have

You go first greyfur

MT62

You go first greyfur

It would be a drop in the Ocean what you could do for them.

The videos being posted online are scary.

There is also a video of a Spanish women being interviewed by one of the Spanish News Channels, the migrants are surrounding them and are openly hostile.

It doesn’t matter what we call it, it will feel like an invasion to the locals, so many arriving quickly and looting in some cases and being hostile.

Oreo

Galaxy

If the current governments don't police their borders, address the issues, then the populations will vote for governments that will. That is the choice really.

And then people look on in amazement when a right wing government gets into power.

Immigration figures rose under 13/14 years of the Conservative government and have fallen over the past couple of years under the Labour government- just saying.

But there's more to governing the UK than border control though I appreciate others may disagree.

Some people will vote on immigration figures/issue alone or as one of their biggest priorities that is their right. Other voters will not vote solely on immigration figures/issue alone and may have differing and higher priorities than immigration figures/issue. that is also their right. The part that secures the majority of votes cast at the next GE will be in government- thats a fact, right or left.

Even if we had zero immigration the UK would still be dealing with the challenges of growth, geopolitical tensions, the economy, dealing with Trump, dealing with Putin, defence, climate change etc etc. I'm therefore in the latter camp.

If any party seeks to implement a UK ICE type approach to controlling borders at huge £financial costs, with all the divisiveness and civil unrest that is likely to ensue as it has in the US, with the attendant reversal of long fought for human rights as enshrined in ECHR, that party would not win my vote.

Time will tell. If a right wing populist party gets into power I will not be amazed I would be saddened.

Ceuta and Melilla are strange being two small Moroccan coastal towns , some distance from ea ch other but both Spanish from hundreds of years sho when Spain ran the area.
When we were in Melilla one Sunday morning we witnessed a couple of small boats with about
15 men altogether which roared in at speed, turned over tipping the passengers out into the sea snd roared off.
On the beach were two policemen who didn’t do much as they all ran past and away. Later we saw queues at what seemed to be an official building.
It was all quiet and calm.
Just across snd in sight of this is Gibraltar.

I actually meant to say ‘far right government’ LemonJam not a right wing Conservative one.