The UN urges Israel to refrain from mass deportations of Eritreans following weekend clashes involving asylum seekers, warning such a move would “contravene international law” and could have dire human consequences.
The United Nations refugee agency says it was “deeply concerned” by the clashes that erupted on Saturday in Tel Aviv when a demonstration against an Eritrean government event turned violent, injuring over 200 people.
“UNHCR calls for calm and restraint, and on all parties to refrain from taking any steps that could aggravate the situation further,” William Spindler, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, tells reporters in Geneva.
While stressing that it was “important to establish accountability” for the events, he warns Israel against taking broad measures against Eritreans in the country.
“Any decision impacting all Eritrean asylum-seekers… would contravene international law,” he says.
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