Israel Releases African Refugees From Prison Camp

While Israel has built a fence along its southern border with Egypt to keep new arrivals out, it has been unable to figure out what to do with the thousands of people already in the country.

It is barred from sending them back to their home countries because they would likely face harm, but Israeli law also prevents the government from deporting them without their consent. With only four exceptions, applications for asylum have either languished or been rejected, activists say.

In 2012, Israeli lawmakers passed an “anti-infiltration” law allowing for the detention of African refugees and asylum seekers without charge. The following year, Israel opened the Holot prison camp deep in its Negev desert, surrounded by fences and barbed wire. Israel since has sent over 1,700 refugees to Holot, a strategy that critics say is meant to coerce refugees into leaving voluntarily.

People imprisoned at Holot can come and go at the male-only facility, but they must sign in at night and sleep there, making it impossible to stray far or hold jobs. The winters are bitter cold, and summer temperatures can soar to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Inmates sleep 10 people to a room, all sharing a single bathroom, detainees say.

Those who violate the rules can be sent to a nearby prison.

The infiltration law has come under repeated legal challenges by advocacy groups. In its latest decision, the Supreme Court said immigrants held at Holot for more than 12 months must be freed, clearing the way for 1,200 people to be released this week.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *