Senator Gutiérrez Díaz de Otazu Questions Government's Stance on Moroccan Hostility
During a recent session of the Spanish Senate, Senator Fernando Gutiérrez Díaz de Otazu, representing the Popular Parliamentary Group from Melilla, expressed his concerns regarding the ongoing harassment Spain has faced from Morocco under Prime Minister Sánchez's administration. He pointedly remarked that this is the first time such aggressive actions have occurred with the apparent approval, understanding, collaboration, and even gratitude of the Spanish government towards Morocco.
In his address to Ángel Víctor Torres, the coordinator of the unified command in Ceuta and Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Díaz de Otazu posed a critical question: "How long will the Government continue to express gratitude to Morocco for the invasion of Ceuta?" His comments highlighted a growing frustration with the government's perceived inaction and compliance in light of Morocco's unfriendly gestures towards both Ceuta and Melilla.
The senator articulated a lack of faith in the Spanish government's ability or willingness to effectively address the escalating crisis, insisting that immediate action is necessary. He emphasized the urgent need for the government to concede authority to those who possess the capability and determination to resolve the situation, stating emphatically, "It is crucial that they stop this and allow those who can act to take charge."
Documented Episodes of Moroccan Aggression
Díaz de Otazu recounted several alarming incidents that exemplify Morocco's hostile treatment of Spain since Sánchez assumed office. He noted that in July 2018, shortly after Sánchez became President, Morocco unilaterally closed the commercial customs at the Beni Enzar border crossing in Melilla, which had been operational since 1866 without interruption. This action marked a significant shift in the relations between the two nations.
Furthermore, in March 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Morocco again took unilateral action, closing the border crossings between Spain and Morocco in Ceuta and Melilla. This decision left hundreds of Moroccan citizens stranded in both cities and resulted in Spanish citizens being held up in Morocco for over six months before they could return home.
The senator also recalled the invasion of Ceuta in May 2021, when approximately 10,000 Moroccan citizens crossed the border with the explicit assistance of Moroccan police forces. Additionally, in May 2022, Morocco unilaterally ended the travel regime for Moroccan citizens crossing from Spain to Morocco, confiscating any goods purchased in Spanish cities.
More recently, a violent mass assault occurred at the Barrio Chino border crossing in Melilla, involving around 2,000 sub-Saharan individuals in June 2022, followed by an incursion of 80,000 Moroccan nationals into Ceuta in July, all while Moroccan security forces remained passive. In light of these troubling developments, Díaz de Otazu directed his ire towards the government, demanding accountability and suggesting that it should resign due to its neglect of duty. He concluded by asserting that the situation in Ceuta is utterly untenable, declaring, "All Spaniards, without exception, want this to cease once and for all."
As reported by pp.es.
