RAFAH, Egypt – An Egyptian hospital official said Egyptian security forces shot and injured three African migrants who were attempting to cross the border illegally into Israel on Sunday, September 14. 

Two migrants from Sudan and one from Ivory Coast ignored warning shots and continued toward a barbed wire barrier south of the border crossing of Rafah, a medical official said.  He added that their injuries were not serious. 

Egyptian government officials deny allegations that the Egyptian forces sometimes shoot at refugees without a warning, even when the victims lay on ground or raised their hands in surrender.   

Refuge advocates say that Egypt adopted this policy due to the pressure of U.S. and Israel to stop the flow of African immigrants into Israel.  But both U.S. and Israel deny this assertion. 

For more information, please see:

Jerusalem Post – Egyptians Shoot at Three African Migrants Near Egypt-Israel Border – 15 September 2008

News 24 – 3 Migrants Shot at Border – September 15, 2008

Press TV – 3 Migrants Shot at Egypt-Israel Border – 15 September 2008

Washington Post –  Egyptian Policy Imperils Refugees, Migrants at Israel’s Door – 12 September 2008