Injuries in violent clashes between Israeli police and Eritreans

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Sep 2023 19:15

Israeli occupation police have cracked down on Eritrean immigrants who were protesting against their home country's government.

Israeli occupation police clash with Eritrean migrants, in “Tel Aviv”, Sept. 2, 2023 (AP)

Over 150 individuals were injured, including 19 with serious injuries, as Israeli police crackdown on Eritrean immigrants who were protesting against their home country's government.

Israeli media reported that the protesters threw stones and wooden planks at Israeli police forces, who began dispersing them using live ammunition, water cannons, and tear gas.

These clashes occurred in opposition to the Eritrean protesters' objection to the hosting of a festival organized by their home country's embassy in "Yad Harutzim".

The protesters vandalized police patrols and shops and set fire to one of the clubs, resulting in 27 Israeli occupation police officers being injured, as per media reports.

Concurrently, Israeli occupation police reportedly arrested 26 protesters, while Commissioner of Police Jacob Shabtai conducted a security assessment of the situation in "Tel Aviv", as per Israeli media.

Following Shabtai's security assessment, hundreds of additional Israeli police officers were deployed to support the police in dispersing the protests.

Meanwhile, Red Star of David reported that Israeli police forces suffered minor injuries, and 11 people with gunshot wounds were transported to the hospital, with 4 of them in serious condition.

Israeli police had set up barriers and iron barriers in the area of the Eritrean embassy's festival in "Yad Harutzim" to prevent protesters from reaching the conference hall where it was scheduled to be held. However, the protesters managed to breach the barriers and set fire to the hall and its surroundings, leading to ongoing confrontations and clashes that are expected to escalate into the evening.

It is worth noting that Eritreans, who make up the majority of more than 30,000 African asylum seekers in "Israel" and who have sought refuge in "Israel" from political persecution and violence in their homeland, often face discrimination and prejudice. They encounter challenges in accessing essential services, employment opportunities, and housing. Additionally, instances of racially motivated violence and hate crimes have been reported.

Israeli police have a long history of #racism and oppression, not only against #Palestinians but against illegal Israeli settlers too. pic.twitter.com/PqHQ3dDOEY
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 3, 2023

This is happening as internal turmoil has been brewing within "Israel", giving rise to challenges and tensions that have captured global attention. Issues of political significance, ideological divides, and concerns by settler communities have combined to create an atmosphere of an imminent internal war.