Approximately 50,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s Ceuta over the past 24 hours. Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city on Africa’s northern coast, directly across the Strait of Gibraltar from mainland Spain. Captured by Portugal in 1415 and transferred to Spanish sovereignty in 1668, it is one of only two Spanish territories on the African mainland and marks one of the European Union’s only land borders with Africa. Its strategic location has made Ceuta a longstanding gateway for migration into Europe and a frequent source of diplomatic friction between Spain and Morocco, which continues to claim the territory. On July 31, 2026, Spanish authorities said roughly 49,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta in about 24 hours, overwhelming the city, triggering a major security response, and reigniting debate over migration and border policy.(Historic Vids)