Pro-Israel group compares Ceuta migrant crisis to October 7 attack

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 14:13 · Archive

A Spanish pro-Israel group ran a bus advertising campaign in Madrid comparing a mass migrant crossing into Ceuta to the October 7 attack on Israel.

A Spanish pro-Israel organisation launched a bus advertising campaign in Madrid on 6 and 7 October, the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre, drawing a direct comparison between the Hamas attack on Israel and a mass migrant crossing into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta. The campaign featured messages including 'Did Ceuta make you feel threatened? Imagine they'd come in to kill us. That was 7 October in Israel' and 'Israel did what it had to do: defend itself'.

On 30 and 31 July, tens of thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, overwhelming local authorities and prompting Spain to deploy additional police and military personnel. Spanish authorities initially estimated about 50,000 people crossed, later revising the figure to roughly 72,000. Although most subsequently returned to Morocco, at least 72 people died during the crossings. Action and Communication on the Middle East (ACOM) said its campaign featured two fully wrapped buses travelling Madrid's major streets for ten hours a day, passing landmarks including the Agriculture Ministry at Atocha and Plaza de Cibeles.

ACOM estimated that the campaign generated between 160,000 and 280,000 street impressions over the two days. The organisation's founder and CEO Angel Mas said the juxtaposition was designed to 'underline for Spanish audiences the threat Israel faces and the scale of the Oct.' incident. ACOM noted that the Ceuta migrants 'did not come in to murder families or to massacre a festival', distinguishing the situations.

How it is being reported

• Spanish police remove last major Ceuta migrant camp just days before royal family visitThe camp sprang up after a mass influx of more than 70,000 people travelled across the border from neighbouring Morocco into the Spanish territory on July 30 and 31.Daily Mail · 11 Oct, 14:02
• Madrid bus campaign from pro-Israel group links Ceuta border breach to Oct. 7 massacreOn July 30 and 31, tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Ceuta from neighboring Morocco, overwhelming local authorities and prompting Spain to deploy additional police and military personnel.New York Post · 10 Oct, 00:01

In this story: Spain · Ceuta · Madrid · Morocco · Israel · Action and Communication on the Middle East · Angel Mas · Hamas

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