Egypt arrests 587 migrants at Israel border this year
Eritreans make up largest group of those detained trying to sneak into Jewish state, at 249 since the start of 2008, security sources say; Sudanese man shot, wounded at frontier on Friday
The sources said Eritreans made up the largest group of those detained trying to sneak into the Jewish state, at 249 since the start of the year. Significant numbers also came from Sudan, Nigeria and Ivory Coast.
"There is a clear rise in the number of Eritrean migrants trying to sneak into Israel, followed by Sudanese... We know that a number of others have been able to enter Israel," one of the sources said, speaking on customary condition of anonymity.
Egypt for years tolerated tens of thousands of African migrants on its territory, but its attitude soured in recent months as it came under pressure to staunch a rising flow of Africans over its border into Israel.
Most of those arrested at the sensitive frontier this year were from African countries, although 15 Georgians were among those held. Security sources said most of those arrested had been deported, while a smaller number were serving jail terms.
Egyptian police have shot dead 19 migrants at the border since the start of the year in a mounting crackdown, and police shot and wounded a Sudanese man on Friday as he tried to cross into Israel, security sources said.
Amnesty International says Egypt has also deported up to 1,200 Eritrean asylum seekers since June 11 despite UN objections that they could be mistreated. Reports indicate many were detained in Eritrean military camps once returned home. The London-based rights group says thousands of migrants try to cross into the Jewish state from Egypt each year, with numbers rising since 2007.
The migrants are seeking work or asylum away from conflict at home and harsh living conditions in Egypt, where activists say African migrants face economic marginalization and racism.
