Israel to send Sudanese refugees back across the border to Egypt

In the future, Israel will turn away all illegal entrants from Sudan, including those from the war-torn region of Darfur, Israeli spokesman David Baker said on Sunday, according to the BBC.

Last month, Israel’s interior ministry said a limited number of Darfuris would be allowed to stay in Israel as it was “clear that they have suffered the most.” Some 500 people from Darfur who have already made it to Israel will be permitted to stay for “humanitarian reasons”.

As many as 50 asylum seekers arrive in Israel each day, according to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates. With the enactment of its new policy, overnight, Israel handed 48 Sudanese back to Egypt, Egyptian security officials said.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Admed Aboul Gheit said Egypt accepted the refugees for “very pressing humanitarian reasons,” but such a move “would not be repeated again.”

For the full article, click here.