Israel has announced the immediate deportation of a minimum of 25,000 African migrants following a violent clash involving Eritreans in Tel Aviv, which left numerous individuals injured.

Eritrea is known for having one of the worst human rights records globally, leading migrants in Israel and elsewhere to express concerns about the possibility of facing death if they were to return.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed this decision on Sunday, also instructing the development of a plan to evacuate all African migrants residing in the country after a bloody confrontation between rival groups of Eritreans in South Tel Aviv.

In a special ministerial meeting addressing the aftermath of the violence, Netanyahu stated, “We want harsh measures against the rioters, including the immediate deportation of those who took part.”

He also requested that ministers provide plans for the removal of all other illegal infiltrators.

International law prohibits Israel from forcibly returning migrants to a country where their lives or liberty may be endangered.

Netanyahu mentioned that the ministerial team aims to deport 1,000 supporters of the Eritrean government involved in the violence, asserting that they have no valid claim to refugee status and suggesting they return to their home country.

Approximately 25,000 African migrants reside in Israel, primarily hailing from Sudan and Eritrea. These migrants claim to have fled their countries due to conflict or repression.

Israel has employed various tactics to encourage migrants to leave, including relocating some to remote prisons, withholding part of their wages until they agree to depart the country, or offering cash incentives to those willing to relocate to another African nation.

Critics have accused the Israeli government of pressuring migrants into leaving, while others contend that migrants have contributed to crime rates in low-income neighborhoods in southern Tel Aviv where they have settled.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, visited the site of the unrest and demanded the detention of those who broke the law until they are deported, emphasizing that they don’t belong there.

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The clashes on Saturday coincided with the 30th anniversary celebration of the current Eritrean ruler’s ascent to power, an event held near the Eritrean embassy in South Tel Aviv.

Similar protests involving rival Eritrean groups have occurred in other countries as well.