FranceIn 2021 and 2022, Moroccan intelligence allegedly used the Pegasus spyware to monitor Spanish officials including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and several ministers. The surveillance, reportedly ordered from the Royal Palace in Rabat by Royal Adviser Fouad El Himma, coincided with actions aimed at pressuring Spain regarding the Western Sahara dispute. A secret Spanish intelligence report linked these activities to the sudden opening of the Ceuta border in May 2021, which was seen as a tactic to manipulate migration flows. In response, Spain fired its foreign minister, Arancha González Laya, in 2022. Relations between Spain and Morocco improved when Sánchez aligned with King Mohamed VI on Western Sahara issues. However, tensions resurfaced in June 2022 when Moroccan security forces caused the 'Melilla massacre,' resulting in 37 deaths and numerous disappearances. This event prompted Spain to push for NATO to recognize migration as a hybrid threat. Additionally, Moroccan intelligence has been accused of leaking photos of Spanish officials without consent and recruiting individuals connected to Spain's police force.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames Moroccan intelligence actions as deliberate espionage and manipulation, emphasizing the impact on Spanish governance and international alliances like NATO. It highlights the perceived betrayal by Morocco and Spain's retaliatory measures, suggesting a critical stance toward Morocco
