A Moroccan intelligence envoy offered evidence on the Pegasus hack of Pedro Sánchez’s phone. Spain’s top prosecutor dismissed the approach, citing diplomatic risk. The move leaves key questions about state security and political priorities unresolved.
Spain’s chief prosecutor at the Audiencia Nacional quietly turned down a rare offer: direct evidence from a former Moroccan intelligence officer about the Pegasus spyware attack that breached Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s phone. The envoy, representing Mehdi Hijaouy—once the number two in Morocco’s DGED—approached prosecutor Jesús Alonso with a deal that could have changed the course of one of Spain’s most sensitive security investigations.
Hijaouy, detained in Spain on an Interpol warrant for alleged fraud, was willing to hand over technical details, a list of targets, and the full 2.6 gigabytes of data taken from Sánchez’s device and those of four ministers. In return, he wanted to avoid extradition to Morocco. The information could have shed light on how the Pegasus operation worked and who was behind it—a case that had stalled for lack of international cooperation. These claims, reported by ABC and other Spanish outlets, come from sources close to Hijaouy and have not been independently confirmed by judicial authorities.
Judge José Luis Calama, who has led the Pegasus investigation since 2022, repeatedly cited Israel's refusal to cooperate as the main obstacle to progress in the case.
Alonso dismissed the offer in a short, tense meeting. According to sources close to Hijaouy cited by ABC, the prosecutor ended the conversation within minutes, saying the matter was "not of interest" and warning it would create "a problem for Morocco." The fact that Alonso and the envoy had known each other for over 25 years made no difference. Days later, the envoy sent a formal email, outlining Hijaouy’s credentials and the scope of the intelligence he could provide, including information on jihadism, narcotrafficking, and the so-called Mocromafia.
Three weeks later, Alonso’s office replied. His secretary told the envoy to send the information to the investigating judge, citing standard procedure. But according to judicial sources, the offer never reached Judge José Luis Calama, who had been leading the Pegasus probe since 2022. Calama had already voiced frustration over Israel’s refusal to cooperate with Spanish requests for information, leaving the investigation at a standstill and the government’s own role under scrutiny. Several Spanish outlets have reported that the lack of Israeli cooperation has blocked progress since at least 2023.
Hijaouy’s associates saw the prosecutor’s evasiveness as a sign that Spain was deferring to Moroccan interests. After two failed court appearances and a suspicious meeting with Spanish and Moroccan intelligence agents, Hijaouy fled the country using a false identity. He escaped by boat and private jet, passing through Turkey to an undisclosed location. Spanish intelligence sources say his whereabouts are unknown and the case is considered highly sensitive.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has publicly stated in parliament that neither the CNI, police, diplomatic service, European Commission, nor any international body has provided firm evidence linking Morocco to the Pegasus incident. This official position has been reiterated in response to ongoing political debates and media speculation.
Despite the seriousness of the Pegasus breach, the Spanish government’s response has been marked by procedural deflection and diplomatic caution. The prosecutor’s office maintains that referring potential informants to the investigating judge is standard practice. Still, the sensitivity of the material and the political stakes suggest a deliberate effort to avoid a clash with Morocco. Hijaouy’s camp points to other recent cases where Spanish authorities have downplayed or redirected issues involving Moroccan interests, such as the border tensions in Ceuta.
Hijaouy’s background as a senior intelligence figure is well documented. He played a central role in Morocco’s external operations and was known to Western agencies, including the CIA. After falling out with Rabat, he began leaking information—from the identities of Moroccan agents to property holdings of top officials. According to those close to him, his goal is to destabilize the regime of Mohamed VI in retaliation for his own persecution.
The Pegasus case remains unresolved. The Spanish judiciary never received the promised evidence, and the investigation into the hacking of Sánchez and his ministers is still stalled. The episode highlights the limits of Spain’s willingness to pursue uncomfortable truths when diplomatic relations are at risk. By refusing to engage with Hijaouy’s offer, the government has made its priorities clear: maintaining the status quo with Morocco, even if it means leaving questions about transparency and national security unanswered.
