Ceuta President: "I am outraged – This was a siege"

Vivas, a member of the People's Party (PP), which has been in power there for more than 25 years, said he was currently "outraged by what happened."

According to the report, Ceuta is a unique enclave, defined both by its geopolitical position and by its diverse population, which includes Muslims and Christians of Spanish and Moroccan origin who live together peacefully.

Data shows that around 73,000 people crossed the border from Morocco into Spain, while Ceuta has a total population of 83,000.

"It is difficult to call this a migration crisis. People saw it as something that Morocco had, if not orchestrated, at least encouraged or allowed," Vivas said.

He added that the city had already experienced a similar situation in May 2021, although on a smaller scale in terms of numbers.

"Those who do not want to return must be removed"

According to Vivas, around 5,000 people remain in the city, although there are no exact figures.

"Normality means that anyone who arrived in Ceuta in a mass and irregular manner, and does not wish to return voluntarily, must be removed through a lawful but urgent procedure, specifically via the Tarajal border crossing," he said.

According to him, the violation of Spain's territorial integrity requires a firm response from both Spain and Europe, because otherwise Ceuta's residents will get the impression that there are no consequences and that this could happen again at any time.

"We must demand respect from Morocco"

He pointed out that Morocco must act in accordance with European regulations in this regard, given the strong ties it maintains with Spain and the rest of Europe in many sectors, and that this must also apply in Ceuta.

He also referred to the reaction of 22 European Union member states regarding the events in Ceuta, saying he believed their statement was very positive because it confirmed that Ceuta is Europe and represents Europe's border.

"Our greatest strength is our membership in the European Union, and that has been crucial for Spain as a whole. For us, given our position on the border, it is of fundamental importance," he concluded.