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Marrakech – Palestinian refugees fleeing the genocide in Gaza have begun arriving in Ceuta by swimming from Morocco. According to Spanish outlet The Objective, three Palestinians have recently reached the Spanish-controlled enclave after crossing the maritime border, seeking asylum and safety from the ongoing atrocities in their homeland.
The influx of swimmers trying to reach Ceuta’s shores has intensified since late July, making the Spanish enclave the latest front where migration from Morocco continues to increase.
In response to this sharp spike in irregular migration attempts, Moroccan and Spanish authorities have significantly ramped up their joint security operations in recent days, as reported by El Mundo.
The Spanish outlet reports that Morocco has deployed an unprecedented array of ground and maritime resources along its northern coastline, focusing on intercepting makeshift boats and preventing migrants – many of them unaccompanied minors – from reaching the Spanish enclave.
While arrivals to the Canary Islands have begun to slow following agreements between the Spanish government and Mauritania, migratory pressure remains constant in Ceuta.
According to the latest figures from the Spanish Ministry of Interior, 1,452 people entered Ceuta by land from January to July – a 7.2% increase compared to last year.
These entries occurred via the border fence and through the breakwaters at Tarajal and Benzú. In just the last two weeks of this period, 361 people crossed into the Spanish-controlled territory.
La Guardia Civil sources explain that official statistics don’t fully capture the continuous attempts to enter the Moroccan Spanish-controlled city by sea.
These maritime crossing attempts are, however, documented in internal reports accessible to the government delegation. This past Sunday’s early morning hours saw one of the nights with the most attempts to cross into Spain.
The journey migrants undertake is increasingly reckless. Swimmers only launch into the water when there’s an easterly wind and dense fog covering the coast, conditions that favor their arrival.
To avoid detection by La Guardia Civil, migrants are venturing farther out to sea rather than following the coastline near the breakwaters, putting their lives at serious risk.
Their only lifesaving devices are tiny floats or vehicle tire inner tubes. At least 16 people have lost their lives in waters near the breakwaters this year, indicating the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Ceuta.
Ceuta’s intense migratory summer
The migrant population at Ceuta’s Temporary Immigration Detention Center (CETI) reflects diverse nationalities beyond Moroccans, including Algerians, sub-Saharan Africans, Pakistanis, Afghans, Bangladeshis, Colombians, and Palestinians who have requested asylum in Spain.
The Palestinian refugees are specifically fleeing the Gaza genocide, desperately seeking sanctuary on European soil.
Just this Saturday, seven more Moroccan minors entered Ceuta by swimming from Morocco, adding to the intense migratory pressure the enclave has experienced since the beginning of summer.
This occurred amid a severely overwhelmed reception system. According to data provided by the Government of Ceuta, the minors’ area currently houses more than 480 unaccompanied foreign minors, despite having an optimal capacity of only 132 places.
Weather conditions, especially the dense fog recorded in the early morning hours, have been crucial in facilitating these crossing attempts.
Poor visibility combined with calm seas provides migrants with an opportunity to jump into the water and reach the Ceuta coast. On Saturday, fog and calm seas led dozens of people to attempt to reach the city through the maritime border at Tarajal.
Local authorities anticipate that the current trend of maritime entries, favored by climate conditions and the proximity of the Moroccan coast, will continue in the coming weeks, while reception capacity remains at its limit without sufficient structural reinforcements.
Read also: Over 80 Irregular Immigrants Swim to Ceuta in Summer’s Largest Irregular Migration Wave
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