Israel has started its deportation plan, imprisoning seven Eritreans who refused to leave Israel. The seven men were moved from Holot, an open detention center, to Saharonim prison for indefinite incarceration. On 20 February, 750 asylum seekers in Holot began a hunger strike. The protestors demand the release of the seven prisoners and that no more be imprisoned.
Last Sunday, the Israeli Immigration and Population Authority began issuing deportation notices to asylum seekers from Eritrea and Sudan. How has this situation evolved? This article describes the current state of play in Israel, giving background information to shed light on how things have escalated.
In this week’s news highlights: Eritreans and Ethiopians increasingly trapped in Sudan, while EU funds authorities; Africa Monitors reports on effects border closure; EU ambassadors react to Sudan arrests; Kenyan and Ugandan arms prolong South Sudanese civil war, says UN official; Eritrea responds to dismissal of official by Dutch government; Head of Eritrean church in US urges Israel to stop deportations; four stories of Eritrean refugees; EU discusses Post-Cotonou agreement and human rights in ACP countries; EU puts fighting smuggling over helping victims of trafficking; demonstration against deportations from Israel; and Libya testimonies.