Thousands of migrants have poured from Morocco into Spain's African enclave. What the media is writing

Thousands of people crossed Morocco's border with Spain's African enclave of Ceuta, with 18 people killed. Madrid has sent troops to deal with the migrant influx. Italy called for Spain to be excluded from the Schengen area in order to prevent their arrival in the continental part of the European Union. How the media reacts to the sudden outbreak of the migration crisis is in the Izvestia digest.

The Guardian: Spain has sent additional troops and police to Ceuta

The Spanish government is sending additional troops and police to its North African enclave of Ceuta after thousands of people from neighboring Morocco entered the waters in this tiny territory in a matter of hours. The video, filmed on July 30 at Tarakhal Beach, shows crowds of people walking around the breakwaters and running along the beach and roads. Most of them seemed to be young men, but there were also families with women and children.

The agency rejected calls to declare a state of emergency in the country, saying that it could not be established due to migration problems. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his government would immediately respond to the situation in Ceuta, which resembles the border crisis of 2021, when more than 8,000 people arrived in two days. The Spanish national broadcaster TVE reported that 2,000 to 3,000 people had entered Ceuta, while the state-run EFE news agency said some had entered the territory by climbing over a high border fence.

Al Jazeera: 18 people died while crossing the border of Morocco and Ceuta

At least 18 people died as a result of the fact that huge crowds of migrants broke through the border of Morocco, heading to the North African Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The deaths occurred after the Ceuta government announced that between 1.5 thousand and 2 thousand people had entered the country over the past ten days. [On July 30] several hundred more people arrived, prompting the region's president, Jesus Vivas, to declare an "absolute humanitarian and social emergency" and urge Madrid to send troops to regain control of the border.

Ceuta, along with Melilla, another autonomous Spanish city in North Africa, forms the European Union's only land border with Africa. In both cities, there is often a surge in attempts to cross the border by people seeking to migrate to Europe. Earlier in July, Spain's supreme court ruled that migrants intercepted at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or Melilla could not be returned to Morocco. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlasca is expected to visit Ceuta on July 31 to assess the situation.

Between two shores: how Ceuta became the center of the migration crisis

Spain strengthens border security and returns illegal migrants, Morocco rejects accusations

Reuters: migrants set fire to cars during a sleepless night at the border

Thousands of migrants have poured into the Moroccan town of Fnidek, located near the border with Ceuta, despite an increased deployment of security forces that thwarted most attempts to cross the border into the Spanish enclave. According to Fnidek residents, most of those who managed to cross the border did so before noon. Despite the fact that the border crossing was blocked, groups of migrants were moving along the coast in search of ways to bypass the fence, and some were preparing to sail.

Traffic on the roads leading to the Moroccan coastal town of Fnidek has been paralyzed due to the continued arrival of potential migrants, including minors. Some walked along the highway into the city until late at night, others chose mountain trails to avoid checkpoints. At night, security forces repeatedly deployed people making coordinated rushes to the checkpoint, while migrants regrouped on roads, hills and open spaces throughout the city.

Politico: Italy and Spain are in conflict over the Schengen area

Senior Italian politicians have called for Spain to be excluded from Europe's Schengen area following reports that thousands of migrants have forced their way into the Ceuta enclave. Images of people entering Spanish territory have become widespread on social media, which has provoked a furious reaction from opponents of migration and politicians.

Meloni, along with Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, called for the suspension of the Schengen Agreement or the exclusion of Spain from the free movement zone. According to the agreement, people can move freely between the 29 European participating countries. However, a number of countries have re-introduced border controls at some of their borders, citing migration risks, which is allowed by the treaty. Italy has already temporarily resumed border controls at the Slovenian border to combat smuggling and terrorism.

All about one thing: mass protests against migration policy broke out in Britain

The reason was a video of a migrant attacking a Belfast resident.

Associated Press: what you need to know about the Spanish enclave of Ceuta

Ceuta and the larger Spanish territory of Melilla, located about 400 km to the east, are located on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea at the northernmost tip of Africa. Both autonomous cities belong to Spain and have the only land border of the European Union with Africa. Ceuta, under Spanish rule since 1580, is home to a mixed population of Christians and Muslims, as well as Spaniards and Moroccans who live here and work as day laborers. Morocco does not officially recognize Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish territory and often refers to them as occupied lands.

Spain is one of the main arrival points in Europe for migrants seeking better economic opportunities or fleeing violence in their home countries. Ceuta and its neighbor Melilla are well fortified. Many migrants are immediately turned back, while others held in shelters go through the registration process and can apply for asylum in Spain. To get to Ceuta, migrants often swim across the city of Fnidek, traveling about 5 km to get to Spain. Others are trying to cross the border from the neighboring town of Belyunesh, where the distance is shorter.