Uganda

African asylum seekers are seen upon release from 'Saharonim' prison in the Negev desert, Southern Israel, April 15, 2018. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Safe from deportations, asylum seekers in Israel still living in fear

2018 began with the Israeli government attempting to deport 35,000 asylum seekers to countries where they would face persecution and possible death. The tireless work of activists stopped the government in its tracks — yet asylum seekers in Israel continue to face an uncertain future.

By Oren Ziv December 30, 2018

Asylum seekers released from Saharonim after Israel failed to present a new agreement that permits their deportation to Uganda. April 15, 2018. (Oren Ziv / Activestills.org)

Israel scraps plan to forcibly deport African asylum seekers

After failing to reach an agreement with a ‘third country,’ Israel announces that its plan to deport tens of thousands of African asylum seekers has collapsed. +972 Magazine Staff The Israeli government informed the High Court Tuesday that its plan to forcibly deport tens of thousands of African asylum seekers has collapsed, after failing to broker a deal with…

By +972 Magazine April 24, 2018

Asylum seekers released from Saharonim after Israel failed to present a new agreement that permits their deportation to Uganda. April 15, 2018. (Oren Ziv / Activestills.org)

In another blow to deportation plan, Israel frees jailed asylum seekers

Israel frees 200 asylum seekers imprisoned for refusing deportation after the government admits there is no secret agreement with Uganda that allows for the mass deportation of refugees. Israel released 207 Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers on Sunday, all of whom had been indefinitely imprisoned for refusing deportation to Uganda or Rwanda. Israel’s High Court…

By Joshua Leifer April 15, 2018

Latest

Asylum seekers and Israeli activists protest Israel's plan to deport tens of thousands of asylum seekers to Uganda. April 9, 2018. (Oren Ziv / Activestills.org)

Hundreds around the world protest Israel’s plan to deport refugees to Uganda

Demonstrators gather in Tel Aviv and in front Ugandan embassies in cities around the world to protest Israel’s plan to deport tens of thousands of Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers to Uganda. Asylum seekers and activists protested in Tel Aviv and outside Ugandan embassies around the world on Monday against Israel’s plan to deport tens of thousands…

By Joshua Leifer April 9, 2018

African asylum seekers wait outside an Israeli immigration office in the central city of Bnei Brak, where authorities began handing out deportation orders, February 13, 2018. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Rwanda is out, but Israel says it can still deport refugees to — Uganda?

International pressure led Rwanda to back out of a secret agreement to take in African asylum seekers deported from Israel. Now Israel says it has a nearly identical agreement with a second country, widely known to be Uganda. Kampala denies any such agreement exists. Israeli insisted on Wednesday that despite the collapse of a deal…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man April 4, 2018

Asylum seekers protesting the indefinite detention of seven asylum seekers who refused to leave Israel for a third country. February 22, 2018. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Israel halts asylum seeker deportations — for now

Israeli authorities signal they plan to keep the deportation plan on schedule. By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man and Joshua Leifer Israeli authorities announced that they will temporarily halt, until further notice, the deportation of African asylum seekers to Rwanda and Uganda. Israel will, however, continue to issue deportation notices, and asylum seekers who are already in…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man March 14, 2018

African asylum seekers and human rights activists protest against deportation in front of the Rwandan Embassy, Herzeliya, January 22, 2018. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

Israel’s secret deportation plan faces biggest challenge yet

A petition on behalf of 119 human rights activists to Israel’s High Court of Justice is the most serious challenge yet to the Israeli government’s plan to deport tens of thousands of asylum seekers. The Israeli government’s plan to deport tens of thousands of African asylum seekers may face its most serious hurdle as the…

By Joshua Leifer March 13, 2018

Najana Kombi, the refugee neighborhood where many Eritrean asylum seekers who came from Israel live. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Pushed out by Israel, asylum seekers find only limbo in Uganda

+972 Magazine joins Meretz MKs Mossi Raz and Michal Rozin in Rwanda and Uganda to find out what happens to the asylum seekers Israel is deporting there. After meeting humanitarian organizations, parliamentarians, and refugees, one thing becomes clear: Most are forced to continue their quest for safety and security elsewhere.

By Oren Ziv February 27, 2018

Kigali, Rwanda. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Sent to Rwanda by Israel: ‘We have no food or work. Don’t come here’

Ahead of a mass planned deportation, +972 Magazine joins two members of Knesset on a trip to Rwanda and Uganda to investigate what happens to the asylum seekers Israel is sending there. The one thing that remained most elusive: a future for asylum seekers pushed out of Israel. By Oren Ziv KIGALI, Rwanda — A dark…

By Oren Ziv February 10, 2018

Thousands of asylum seekers and activists protest outside the Rwandan embassy in Herzliya. February 7, 2018. (Shiraz Grinbaum/Activestills.org)

Live blog: Global protests against Israeli plans to deport refugees

Protests are expected outside Rwandan embassies around the world Wednesday as Israel moves forward with its plan to deport tens of thousands of asylum seekers, most of whom fled Eritrea and Sudan. By +972 Magazine Staff [This live blog has ended.] Activists hope Israel’s deportation plan can be stopped if Rwanda pulls out of its…

By +972 Magazine February 7, 2018

Thousands of asylum seekers protest outside the Rwandan embassy in Herzilya, Monday, January 22, 2018. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Thousands of asylum seekers protest deportation outside Rwandan embassy

The demonstration, held by African asylum seekers, Israelis, and international activists, marks the opening of a new front in the struggle against the deportation. Approximately 2,000 asylum seekers demonstrated outside of the Rwandan embassy in Herzilya on Monday against the Israeli government’s plan to deport them. The demonstrators, joined by Israeli and international human rights activists,…

By Joshua Leifer January 22, 2018

An El Al pilot hangs out the window of one of the carrier's planes. (Illustrative photo by Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

‘I won’t fly refugees to their deaths’: The El Al pilots resisting deportation

At least three pilots for Israel’s flag carrier publish declarations publicly refusing to take part in the forced deportation of asylum seekers should they be asked to. The Israeli government is giving tens of thousands of Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers a stark choice: deportation or indefinite imprisonment. By Yali (Yael) Marom At least three El Al…

By Yali (Yael) Marom January 22, 2018

African asylum seekers protest on Saturday against the "Deposit Law", following which Eritreans and Sudanese are required to deposit fifth percent of their salary. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

The new ‘choice’ for asylum seekers: Deportation or prison

Israel finally plans to close its desert detention facility for African asylum seekers. Refugee advocates worry it could be the start of something even worse. During a midnight vote on Monday, the Knesset passed a bill that will enable the government to detain asylum seekers indefinitely or deport them to an unspecified country in Africa.…

By Joshua Leifer December 13, 2017