Egyptians murder 4 Sudanese fleeing to Israel

IDF soldiers attempt to save refugees, watch as they are killed

By ICEJ NEWS

03 Aug 2007

Four Sudanese refuges were killed by Egyptian soldiers in front of IDF troops on Wednesday night. As IDF troops watched the refugees approach the border, Egyptian soldiers opened fire on the group, killing two and wounding a third refugee.

One of the men managed to reach the fence, according to reports, where a literal tug of war developed between the Egyptian and Israeli soldiers. One of the IDF soldiers involved told Israel TV Channel 10 that they let go of the man’s arms after the Egyptian forces pointed their weapons at them. "They were aiming loaded weapons straight at us, I was afraid they were going to shoot us," he said.
  
The Egyptians soldiers then dragged the refugee away from the border fence and used clubs and stones to beat him and another refugee to death. Reports indicate that the entire event was caught on IDF videotape. Both Egyptian and Israeli officials have said that an immediate investigation will be launched.

Meanwhile, a majority of Israeli MK’s are demanding an end to the deportation of Sudanese refugees to Egypt. "The refugees need protection and sanctuary, and the Jewish people's history as well as the values of democracy and humanity pose a moral imperative for us to give them that shelter,” said the lawmakers in a petition to protect those refugees already in Israel. So far, 63 MKs have signed the petition.

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