Israel and UNHCR Send Over 16,000 African Immigrants to Western Countries

Israel announced on Monday that it has abandoned the deportation of African illegal immigrants to Africa and has reached an agreement with UNHCR to send over 16,000 immigrants to Western countries.

Other immigrants, many of whom are seeking asylum, will be able to remain in Israel for at least the next five years, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

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The fate of around 37,000 Africans in Israel presents a moral dilemma for the state. The right-wing government is under pressure from its nationalist voter base, which demands the expulsion of immigrants, while others are calling for immigrants to be given refuge.

In February, Israel began issuing notices to 20,000 male African immigrants, giving them two months to leave the country or face imprisonment.

The Israeli government offered immigrants, most of whom are from Sudan and Eritrea, $3,500 and a plane ticket to what it described as a safe destination in another country in Sub-Saharan Africa, which Israeli media report is Rwanda.

However, human rights groups argue that many immigrants fled from abuse and war, and that deportation, even to another country in Africa, would further endanger them.

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Groups have challenged the deportation plan in the Israeli Supreme Court, which on March 15 issued a temporary ruling freezing the implementation of the plan.

“Israel and UNHCR have reached an unprecedented understanding for the departure of at least 16,250 immigrants… to Western countries,” the statement said, without specifying which countries are involved.

A UNHCR spokesperson confirmed that an agreement has been reached but did not wish to go into details.