Asylum Seekers In Israel Are Attempting To March Back To Africa

More than one thousand African asylum seekers left Israel's Holot detention center this weekend and began marching toward the border with Egypt.

Asylum seekers walked toward Israel’s border with Egypt Saturday, after leaving Holot, an open detention center.

Now: Thousands of African asylum seekers leaving Holot detention center, stay tuned #MarchForFreeom

The group was attempting to reach the demilitarized zone between Egypt and Israel, where they wanted to set up camp.

Morning prayer at the #MarchForFreedom camp near the Israeli-Egyptian border, asylum seekers are staying put #UNHCR

“This is an act of desperation,” said Adam, an Eritrean asylum seeker who spoke to BuzzFeed by phone. "We didn't want it to come to this, but we felt we had no other choice."

NOW: Thousand of African asylum seekers leaving Holot detention center without intention to return #MarchForFreedom

Israeli soldiers clashed with the group as they neared the border.

Israeli soldiers prevent African asylum seekers from marching to border w/ Egypt, more here: http://t.co/oYLzPTIp8b

In this video, Israeli soldiers can be seen arguing with the group and dragging them away from the border.

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A spokesperson for the group said they would remain at the camp until their demands were met. Those demands include better conditions at the Holot detention center – where they said there is no health care – and the release of those who have been held for upwards of two years or have been victims of torture and assault.

The group is also asking that their asylum requests be reviewed by the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees, rather than the current system which sees Israel Interior Ministry review all requests.

African asylum seekers have protested against Israel's detention policies for months.

Israel's Prison Services said that those who left the Holot detention facility were expected to return, or face arrest.

#MarchForFreedom Activists prepare to stay the night on Israeli-Egyptian border, calling on #RedCross intervention

A spokesperson for the asylum seekers has been tweeting from an account representing the Holot detention facilities. They have been appealing to Israelis to put pressure on their government to improve the treatment of asylum seekers.

To Israeli citizens we know that many of you do not agree with the harsh policies of the government you are a people who know persecution

We are not your enemies. We entered Israel illegally because we fled danger and needed a place of safety.

Therefore we have made a commitment to keep on struggling for our basic rights and we will never give up justice and equality. Forever.

Israeli police began breaking up the protest camp Sunday evening, and forcing the group onto busses that would return them to the Holot camp.

Activists tweeted the following photos Sunday, of police violently breaking up the demonstration.

Last pic before Israeli man (plainclothes IDF?) smashed my cam. Army then started beating this guy #MarchForFreedom

The Israeli police are now forcibly evacuating asylum seekers who are protesting their indefinite detention.

Israeli activist Sigal Avivi tries to save one young African prisoner from his indefinite sentence at Holot.

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