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African asylum seekers in Israel

Endalkew Yemani Tesma faces the possibility of deportation. (Theia Chatelle/ JTA)
'Israel is sending thousands back to face serious peril'
Israel’s Ethiopian asylum seekers built a life in the country. Now they’re fighting to stay
By Theia Chatelle
145 years after its establishment to help Jews flee pogroms, HIAS is among groups trying to protect refugees from a system that virtually guarantees their eventual deportation
Security camera footage of a violent robbery of three boys eating in a restaurant in north Tel Aviv on April 20, 2026. (Screenshot/X)
May 12, 2026, 7:50 pm
Rash of teen violence renews focus on south Tel Aviv gang linked to migrants’ kids
Robberies, assaults and more attributed to SSQ group, largely made up of children without legal status, underlining chronic complaints by locals; some see marginalization at fault
By Charlie Summers
Protesters march in a demonstration in south Tel Aviv against Israel's planned deportation of African migrants and refugees, February 24, 2018. (Miriam Herschlag/ Times of Israel/ File)
February 10, 2026, 12:04 am
Rights groups call on Interior Ministry to freeze deportation of Ethiopian migrants
With Foreign Ministry warning against travel to Tigray, groups say Ethiopia still too volatile to be safe
By Sue Surkes
Israeli-born children of African migrants and asylum-seekers protest against segregated education in Tel Aviv, September 1, 2021, Rabin Square, Tel Aviv. (Courtesy, Levinsky Garden Library)
June 18, 2024, 7:19 am
First year of integrating migrant children with Israelis in Tel Aviv schools ‘a success’
Municipality, Education Ministry announced integration pilot for first-graders days before High Court was to discuss petition against segregation
By Sue Surkes
Adam Barima (Courtesy)
January 31, 2024, 8:39 pm
Adam Brema, 47: Sudanese asylum-seeker slain in Sderot
Murdered by Hamas terrorists in Sderot on October 7
By ToI Staff
Nine-year-old Bena Hagdu holds injera bread at the Hannaton Educational Center at Kibbutz Hanaton, December 2023. (Omer Sharvit/ Zman)
January 15, 2024, 7:31 am
Ignored by the state, Eritreans from Sderot find temporary shelter in northern kibbutz
Asylum seekers find themselves displaced once again following the Oct. 7 massacre; deprived of government assistance due to bureaucracy, they rely on the kindness of others
By Omer Sharvit
Eritrean asylum seekers volunteer at the Civilian Operations Hub, Expo Tel Aviv, October 19, 2023. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
October 26, 2023, 5:14 pm
With memories of atrocities in Africa still vivid, asylum seekers are helping Israel
‘Our country is bleeding, and we are standing with it,’ says Brhane Negasi, who experienced Islamist terror in the Sinai Desert; ‘Hamas is even worse than they were,’ he insists
By Sue Surkes
Police at the scene of a brawl between Eritrean migrants in Netanya, Sept. 30, 2023. (Israel Police)
September 30, 2023, 11:32 pm
Eritrean man stabbed to death in Netanya, in latest brawl between migrants
Violence between supporters and opponents of regime has been on the rise; deadly incident follows overnight clashes in Tel Aviv
By ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (L) at a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on September 10, 2023 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
September 10, 2023, 4:14 pm
Cabinet allocates NIS 20 million to encourage migrants to leave country
Funds earmarked to encourage ‘voluntary departure,’ week after a massive street brawl between Eritrean migrants injured over 170
By Carrie Keller-Lynn
Eritrean protesters clash with Israeli riot police in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, September 2, 2023. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)
September 9, 2023, 6:16 am
After riot, police said to order closure of Tel Aviv Eritrean churches over weekend
Law enforcement meets with church leaders, temporarily shutters 4 houses of worship to head off further violence following clashes last week, report says
By ToI Staff
Chancela Mongoza as Omari in 'Running on Sand,' nominated for best feature film in the 2023 Ophir Awards. (Courtesy: PR)
September 5, 2023, 9:05 pm
Ophir-nominated dramedy features Eritrean asylum seeker as lead character
‘Running on Sand’ cast includes African migrant actors as part of an effort to lift the curtain on racism and invisibility, while giving the issue a humorous twist
By Jessica Steinberg
Interior Minister Moshe Arbel seen during a meeting of his Shas party faction meeting, at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, on July 10, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
September 4, 2023, 6:55 pm
Interior minister admits asylum requests held up due to ‘tremendous’ lack of staff
Moshe Arbel says skilled workers needed to process applications, but monthly wage is low; adds that convincing migrants to leave of their own accord is ‘good solution’
By ToI Staff
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visits south Tel Aviv on September 3, 2023, a day after Eritrean migrants rioted in the area. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
September 4, 2023, 8:47 am
Levin, Ben Gvir said to suggest moving Eritrean migrants to tony north Tel Aviv
After rioting in city’s south, justice and national security ministers tout plan to forcibly relocate asylum seekers to wealthier, and left-leaning, neighborhoods
By ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2R) chairs a ministerial meeting in Jerusalem following migrant riots in south Tel Aviv, September 3, 2023 (Haim Zach/GPO)
September 3, 2023, 4:30 pm
‘A real threat’: PM backs widespread arrests, eyes deportations in migrant crackdown
After riots, cabinet members okay administrative detentions, weigh pulling work permits; Netanyahu says they’ll also strive ‘to get all the rest of the illegal infiltrators out’
By ToI Staff
Anti-Eritrean government activists, left, clash with supporters of the Eritrean government, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sept. 2, 2023 (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
September 3, 2023, 11:53 am
Some 40 still hospitalized after Eritrean migrant riots, 12 in serious condition
With cops caught unprepared for Saturday’s havoc in Tel Aviv’s south, reports of chaotic scenes at police command center, commissioner Shabtai seizing direct control
By Renee Ghert-Zand and ToI Staff
Eritrean asylum seekers who oppose the regime in Eritrea and pro-regime activists clash with police officers in south Tel Aviv, September 2, 2023. (Omer Fichman/Flash90)
September 3, 2023, 2:58 am
Officer hospitalized with serious head injury after migrant clashes in Tel Aviv
Doctors remove part of camping stove from cop’s head; some 50 officers among over 150 wounded in street brawl between supporters and opponents of Eritrean government
By ToI Staff
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