Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Israel has welcomed large numbers of Ukrainian and Russian Jews within the scope of its Law of Return. Its treatment of these groups, however, stands in stark contrast to that experienced by other refugees and asylum seekers–many of whom face detention and deportation. Most recently, the country’s Interior Ministry announced […]
30 November 2020 – Israel
The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) in early March 2020, after the discovery of seven cases in Bethlehem linked to a tourist group from Greece. In response, the Palestinian Authority declared a state of emergency, imposed a citywide lockdown, and enforced a curfew. Between March and June, there […]
16 July 2020 – Israel
Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, large numbers of Palestinians travelled to work in Israel on a daily or weekly basis. However, due to fears that such travel could further spread the virus, Israel’s emergency regulations required Palestinian workers to remain in the country and prevented them from returning to the West Bank. (Authorities issued stay […]
04 June 2020 – Israel
After deconfinement began on 27 in Israel, new Covid infections increased sharply. However, the real number of infections in the country is difficult to assess because of fears amongst workers about the consequences of presenting themselves for testing. Migrant workers and asylum seekers appear to have a much higher infection rate than the rest of […]
12 April 2020 – Israel
Israel has implemented several measures impacting migrants and asylum seekers as well as prisoners. While one NGO, Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, has reported that they were been able to get some people released from immigration detention since the crisis began, the GDP has found no additional reports detailing what, if any, measures are being […]
Last updated: February 2011
DETENTION STATISTICS
DETAINEE DATA
ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION
ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT DATA
PRISON DATA
POPULATION DATA
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA & POLLS
MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION
LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Detention-Related Legislation
Prevention of Infiltration (Offences and Jurisdiction) Law, 5714-1954, 8 LSI 133 (5714-1953/54). as amended
(1954)
2014
GROUNDS FOR MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION
LENGTH OF MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION
MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION INSTITUTIONS
Detention Facility Management
PROCEDURAL STANDARDS & SAFEGUARDS
DETENTION MONITORS
> National human rights monitoring bodies
> National Preventive Mechanisms (Optional Protocol to UN Convetion against Torture)
> Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
> Governmental monitoring bodies
> International detention monitoring
TRANSPARENCY
READMISSION/RETURN/EXTRADITION AGREEMENTS
COVID-19
HEALTH CARE
COVID-19 DATA
INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
International Treaties Ratified
Ratification Year
Observation Date
CTOCTP, Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
2008
2008
CAT, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
1991
1991
Ratio of relevant international treaties ratified
Ratio: 11/19
Relevant Recommendations Issued by Treaty Bodies
Recommendation Year
Observation Date
Committee against Torture
45. The State party should take the legislative and other measures necessary with a view to ensuring that the detention of persons entering its territory irregularly is only used as a last resort, when determined to be strictly necessary and proportionate in each individual case, and for as short a period as possible.
2016
2016
2018
Human Rights Committee
§20 […] (d) Ensure that the new legislation abolishes the system of automatic detention of asylum seekers and requires that in each case, detention is reasonable, necessary and proportionate in light of the circumstances, and reassessed as it extends in time
2014
2014
2014
Committee on the Rights of the Child
§70 […](d) Cease with immediate effect the detention of children on the basis of their immigration status; (e) Conduct individual assessments and evaluations of the best interests of the child at all decision stages of the migration process affecting children, and with the involvement of child protection professionals, the judiciary as well as children themselves. Primary consideration should also be given to the best interests of the child in any proceeding resulting in the child’s or their parents’ detention, return or deportation;
2013
2013
2013
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
§ 41. The State party: (a) Ensure that the refugee status determination procedure is in full compliance with the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and that the process of application is fair and effective; (b) Amend the Law for the Prevention of Infiltration and any other relevant legislation in order to ensure that they do not stigmatize asylum seekers and are in line with the State party ’s international obligations ; (c) Consider abolishing the provisions that require employers to deduct a significant percentage of the salaries of employees falling under the Law for the Prevention of Infiltration, which further hampers their socioeconomic status and opportunities; (d) Ensure equal access to and quality education of children of asylum seekers, continue the establishment of educational institutions, including by increasing the number of public kindergartens, and put an end to the de facto segregated schooling system ; (e) Ensure adequate protection for all stateless persons and establish an effective mechanism to end statelessness among Bedouins.
2020
2020
NON-TREATY-BASED INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS
REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS
DETENTION COSTS
OUTSOURCING
FOREIGN SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR DETENTION OPERATIONS
Government Agencies
Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption,http://www.moia.gov.il/english/pages/default.aspx
Knesset Information and Research Centre, http://www.knesset.gov.il/mmm/eng/index.asp
International Organisations
UNHCR Israel Profile, http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e4864b6
United Nation Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, http://www.unrwa.org/
NGO & Research Institutions
Association for Civil Rights in Israel, http://www.acri.org.il/en/
African Refugee Development Center, http://www.ardc-israel.org/
Amnesty International Israel, http://www.amnesty.org.il/
ASSAF - Aid Organization for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel, http://www.assaf.org.il/
B'Tselem, www.btselem.org
Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, http://hotline.org.il/en/main/
Israel Religious Action Center Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, http://www.irac.org/
Kav LaOved (Worker's Hotline), http://www.kavlaoved.org.il/en/
The Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews (IAEJ), http://www.iaej.co.il/en/
