Asylum seekers were victims of Oct. 7. Israel's gov't must do more to support them - opinion
Just as wars and pandemics do not discriminate, so, too, should the state provide support to all those affected by Hamas’s heinous attack and the war that followed.
African asylum seekers line up to apply for a visa in Bnei Brak, Israel(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)ByTALI EHRENTHALThe brutal attack by Hamas and the ongoing war that followed does not differentiate between populations. Among the casualties, there are refugees and asylum seekers, wounded and bereaved. The casualties include three asylum seekers who were murdered by Hamas in Sderot on October 7. The outcomes of the crimes committed by Hamas on October 7 and the war continue to shake all of Israeli society. Even those who have an economic safety net have found themselves in a completely unprecedented situation.
The refugee community is one of the most marginalized communities in Israel and was affected tremendously by the war. However, after that accursed Saturday, with a genuine sense of solidarity, asylum seekers joined the efforts of civil organizations to help the victims of the war, such as collecting food donations and volunteering to harvest fruits and vegetables. Molugeta Tsegai, an Eritrean asylum seeker, risked his life to save a wounded military officer. The asylum seekers did so out of a true sense of shared destiny with the Israeli society in which they have been living for nearly three decades.
Today, approximately 60,000 refugees and asylum seekers live in Israel, mostly from Eritrea, Ukraine, and Sudan. They fled their countries to escape ruthless militant rule, wars, rape, looting, and murder. They left behind their homes, their possessions and, most importantly, their families. They are coping daily with the dangerous and traumatic circumstances they escaped from in their home countries, while struggling to survive in Israel.
Despite living legally under collective protection, they are not eligible for national insurance, health insurance, and most welfare services. During these difficult times, the most vulnerable groups seek assistance, namely torture survivors, people with disabilities, mental health patients, the homeless, single-parent families, and victims of domestic violence.
How asylum seekers have been marginalized further post-October 7
The war has heightened the risk of a humanitarian crisis for these already marginalized communities. Israel must include asylum seekers in economic programs, grants, and professional training initiatives. Over the past 15 months, organizations like ASSAF (Aid Organization for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel) have repeatedly called on the government to map the needs of these populations and develop targeted intervention plans.African asylum seekers wait to apply for a visa in Bnei Brak, Israel (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)In February 2024, after numerous appeals to government ministries went unanswered, civil society organizations, including ASSAF, filed a petition with the High Court demanding that government assistance programs for residents of conflict zones in the South and North of the country also be extended to asylum-seekers residing in these areas.
In September 2024, after numerous requests for extensions from the state, its representatives informed the court that, following the filing of the petition, an inter-ministerial team had been formed to examine the issue and develop a framework under which certain compensations would be provided to asylum seekers living in conflict zones. While the state’s decision to provide some compensation to asylum seekers residing in conflict zones is a positive development, there is no justification for differentiating between Israeli residents affected by the war and asylum seekers who have been living in these cities and villages for many years.
Just as wars and pandemics do not discriminate, the state should provide support to all those affected by Hamas’s heinous attack. The one-sided solidarity must end. Israel has an opportunity to extend a hand to asylum seekers, recognizing them as equals in rights and responsibilities. Only time will tell if this will happen.
Just as wars and pandemics do not discriminate, so, too, should the state provide support to all those affected by Hamas’s heinous attack and the war that followed.■
Tali Ehrenthal is a social worker and CEO of ASSAF – Aid Organization for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel.
