Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Spain to protest the government’s handling of the migrant wave in Ceuta

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Spanish cities to protest against the government’s handling of the migrant wave in Ceuta.

Opposition parties accuse the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of abandoning the residents of the small Spanish enclave on the North African coast.

At least 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco to Ceuta on July 30 and 31. And while most have since returned, as many as 5,000 – including 1,200 children – remain in makeshift camps scattered on city streets or on beaches.

A police report said Moroccan security forces showed “total indulgence” during the wave, a view at odds with Mr Sánchez, who insists Morocco was not responsible.

He blames people-smuggling gangs and internet disinformation for encouraging people to cross the border, while Morocco denies they orchestrated or were involved in the mass crossing.

While rejecting suggestions that Moroccan authorities helped orchestrate the incident, Mr. Sanchez said Moroccan police “allowed the line to be crossed.”

It comes when officials come in Ceuta warned that the small city in North Africa is still on the brink of disaster, while the “worst of the worst” is still here.

The Spanish prime minister said his government would release key reports on the border crossing, but did not say when they would be made public or what they would entail.

He also increased the official death toll from the event to 141 people, significantly higher than the latest estimate of 96 in both Spain and Morocco provided by authorities in Ceuta and the National Human Rights Council of Morocco. It is not known how this was added up.

Mr Sánchez is under increasing scrutiny from angry residents of Ceuta, where the flow of thousands of migrants has angered residents of the small community, which is ill-equipped to handle such an influx.

Top government officials have sometimes provided conflicting information about the event. Last week, the Defense Ministry said Spanish intelligence had given advance warning of the border storm, while the Interior Ministry and others said this was not the case.

This week, meetings were organized by municipal councils around the world Spain where opposition parties – the conservative Partido Popular (PP) and the far-right Vox party – rule or have significant popularity.

Spaniards joined protests in support of Ceuta, demanding solutions to ongoing tensions in the city and calling for Mr. Sanchez’s resignation.

There were ugly scenes in Barcelona as thousands of protesters were met by a rival rally chanting anti-racist and anti-fascist slogans, forcing police to intervene.

PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo attended a rally in Madrid where more than 50,000 people gathered, according to government figures.

“A Spanish city has been invaded and occupied and unfortunately this happened with the knowledge of the Spanish government,” he said.

There was also a rally in Ceuta, where the crowd chanted: ‘Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta must be defended.’

Sánchez faced a barrage of questions from lawmakers after his opening speech on Thursday, in addition to calls for early elections.

“The people of Ceuta have been without normality, without security and without answers for more than a month. And we Spaniards are at the same time perplexed and outraged by the violation of our territorial integrity,” said Mr Feijoo.

“Why are you afraid of Morocco?” Feijoo asked.

Most migrants who entered Ceuta in late July returned to neighboring Morocco or were sent back within days.

But according to the government, weeks later, around 5,000 people, including 1,200 minors, remain in the city. The local government of Ceuta cites a higher figure of around 9,000 people.

Mr. Sanchez, who faces elections next year, has said a misinterpretation of a Supreme Court ruling and disinformation on social media have pushed people to cross the border.

The Prime Minister has also accused social media accounts linked to Russia, Israel and right-wing groups of exploiting and amplifying the Ceuta crisis after it took place on July 30 and 31. Israel and Russia have denied this claim.

Questions about Morocco’s role Mr Sanchez also insisted there was no evidence the Moroccan government was behind the mass crossing.

“I can assure you that no institution – neither the diplomatic service, nor the European Commission, nor any international body – has provided the Spanish government with solid evidence that Morocco planned or carried out the incident. None,” Mr. Sanchez said.

Earlier this week, Spanish media reported that a police report had highlighted the alleged permissiveness of Moroccan security forces in the incident, but Spanish officials denied that the document blamed the Moroccan government.

Mr. Sanchez acknowledged that during a 10-hour period on July 30, when migrant arrivals peaked, Moroccan Gendarmerie police “allowed the border to be crossed” in Ceuta, but said the same force later effectively took control.

With questions mounting from left and right in Spain about Morocco’s role in the event, the Spanish leader said he would wait until there was solid evidence about Rabat’s involvement.

“For the record, if such solid evidence existed, we would act accordingly with absolute determination as the situation requires,” he said.

Mr Sánchez condemned comments by two Moroccan ministers questioning the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla, the other Spanish territory in North Africa. Spain has summoned Morocco’s ambassador to Madrid over the comments, he said.

The Moroccan Foreign Ministry did not respond to questions seeking comment on Spain’s summons of the Moroccan ambassador to Madrid, or on the alleged Spanish police report.

The two exclaves have the European Union’s only land borders with Africa.

– READ MORE: We’d stop the boats in 100 days: Farage unveils Reform’s plan to stop migrants, cut benefits and cut taxes