Hundreds of MREs and travelers from Operation Marhaba found themselves blocked after the closure of the Beni Enzar crossing. The measure was taken following several simultaneous entry attempts into the city of Melilla.
The Spanish Supreme Court bans the “hot returns” of migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Sebta or Melilla by swimming. This case law arose from the appeal of an Algerian national handed over to Morocco in 2024.
Organized networks allegedly conceal new clothing in secondhand shipments imported to Morocco. Declared as used garments or humanitarian aid, these goods would thus escape customs duties before being resold in stores.
The disappearance of the barrier between Gibraltar and Spain is now fueling another dream, a few hundred kilometers further east. In Melilla, a political party imagines a city freed from its fence with Morocco and closely associated with the development of Nador.
The passage of goods to Ceuta and Melilla has reportedly been interrupted again since mid-June. In Spain, this decision is presented as a new pressure tactic by Morocco against the two enclaves.
Summer crowds at the Beni Ensar border crossing are causing major congestion. To facilitate transit, a human rights defense association is urging authorities to clarify customs rules and modernize reception infrastructure, particularly for Moroccan expatriates.
The acceleration of Morocco’s military modernization is reshaping the regional balance. While a direct armed conflict remains unlikely, this increase in power is forcing Spain to urgently review its defensive and diplomatic posture in the face of growing hybrid pressure.
The Spanish Army is intensifying its operations in Melilla. Facing Moroccan claims, Madrid is deploying its elite units in an open show of force, reaffirming its readiness to intervene militarily to guarantee its territorial sovereignty.
Spain tolerates, according to Spanish press, a severe border blockade at Ceuta and Melilla by Morocco, contrasting with its flexibility toward Gibraltar. The promised customs posts remain closed, asphyxiating local populations systematically faced with endless waiting times.
For the next Marhaba operation, running from mid-June to mid-September, maritime carrier Baleària is planning an unprecedented summer service. Twelve ships will operate up to 37 daily connections to Morocco, Ceuta and Melilla.
The Iberian press is buzzing about an unlikely but feared scenario: war against Morocco . Faced with this hypothesis, observers doubt NATO’s automatic intervention to protect all Spanish territory.
Analyses suggest a possible support from Israel and the United States for Moroccan claims on Ceuta and Melilla. A hypothesis that is raising concerns in Spain, amid persistent diplomatic tensions with Washington and Tel-Aviv.