An Egyptian security source told Al-Masry Al-Youm today that Egyptian authorities foiled an attempt by 12 African migrants to illegally cross Egypt's eastern border into Israel. The source said the immigrants were caught near the 83rd international mark in al-Naqb and that they surrendered as soon as they were given a warning. The source also said the immigrants included eight Sudanese and four Eritreans, who the source said all confessed to attempting to enter Israel illegally in search of employment opportunities.
Egyptian authorities say there has been an increase in attempts by African immigrants to illegally cross its border into Israel in search of employment. Israel says nearly 10,000 African immigrants have illegally crossed the Egyptian border into the country during the past few years. Bedouin gangs operating in people smuggling in the region have been assisting the immigrants in their attempts to cross the border.
International organizations accused Egyptian security forces of using excessive force in their attempts to thwart the smuggling. Since the beginning of 2010, nearly 24 Africans attempting to cross into Israel were killed by Egyptian authorities and at least another 19 were killed in 2009.
