Ceuta dominated through parliament, Brussels and courts. In Congress Sánchez and Feijóo accused each other of entrenching the crisis, with Sánchez charging Feijóo with damaging Spain's image in the EU. In Strasbourg von der Leyen addressed Spain directly that the Ceuta border was European, proposing emergency flexibility to accelerate returns, while the European Parliament condemned the assault as attack and invasion and demanded an independent investigation. Morocco wrote to MEPs pledging readmission.

On the ground the government announced two permanent identification centres in Ceuta and Melilla and carried out a first return, but the Audiencia Nacional provisionally halted the tent camp in Ceuta port after a police union appeal, blocking imminent relocation. A judge separately summoned Ceuta president Vivas to testify, as prosecutors flagged omission by the government delegate.