State transfers 50 migrants to new detention center
First detainees moved from 'closed' Saharonim facility to 'open' Holot facility in accordance with new amendment to law. Dozens more expected to be moved
Some 50 Saharonim detainees have been transferred to the new migrants' detention facility Holot
on Thursday, the Israel
Prison Service reported.
In its full capacity, the facility is expected to house 9,000 detainees.
Related stories:
- New migrants' detention facility gears for opening
- 'Holot facility fails to address legal concerns'
- State ratifies amendment to Prevention of Infiltration Law
Ratifying the amendment to the Prevention of Infiltration Law enabled the establishment of the new facility, dubbed "open," due to the fact that migrants held in the detention center will be allowed to leave the premises during the day, and obligated to report at night and three times a day.
Video: Barel Ephraim (צילום: בראל אפרים )
The new facility has nonetheless drawn opposition, especially from human rights groups that insists that current regulations are still infringing on human rights, despite the amendment to the previous outline, which the High Court deemed "unconstitutional."
"The approval of the new amendment, which is worse than the one that was rejected by the High Court, is a disgrace to Israeli democracy and signifies a debasement of both the High Court and the rule of law," a statement by the Assaf Organization for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel said.
According to the statement, "The detention of 3,000 out of 50,000 asylum seekers in Israel, without judicial review or a time limit, is not only draconian, undemocratic and a critical violation of human rights, but it will also not be of any help to residents of south Tel Aviv."
According to regulations, detainees who violate any of the facility's rules will be transferred to the Saharonim facility.
Omri Efraim contributed to this report
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop
