An Eritrean man was stabbed to death in Netanya on Saturday during a brawl that left eight other Eritreans injured.
One of the injured, a man in his 30s, was in serious condition, and the rest of the casualties were in light-to-moderate condition.
Four people were reportedly arrested at the scene on suspicion of taking part in the melee. Police suspect that the man who was murdered opposed the regime in Eritrea and was stabbed by supporters.
On Friday night, a brawl between Eritreans in south Tel Aviv sent two people to the hospital in serious condition. Earlier in the week, an Eritrean asylum seeker was stabbed to death.
Since the brawl, violence between Eritreans in Israel has been on the rise.
Members of the community have been warning of public calls to attack opponents of the regime that have appeared on social media.
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Eritrea over the years, with large numbers setting off into the deserts of Sudan and then North Africa. Many seek to reach safety in Europe.
According to June statistics, there are 17,850 Eritrean migrants in Israel.
President Isaias Afwerki, 77, has led Eritrea since it won independence from Ethiopia in a long guerrilla war. There are no elections, no free press, and exit visas are required.
Eritrean man stabbed to death in Netanya, in latest brawl ...
An Eritrean citizen was stabbed to death in a fight in Netanya; Eight others were injured
The scuffle broke out between supporters and opponents of the regime in Eritrea, and six were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the incident. Eyewitness: "People beat each other with sticks." Later, the police announced the arrest of ten armed men in south Tel Aviv, and the commissioner instructed to continue with the administrative arrests
September 30th, 9PM September 30th, 11PM A story of Dia Haj YahyaAn Eritrean citizen was stabbed to death this evening (Saturday) during a fight in Netanya, and eight others were injured. One of them, about 30 years old, was seriously injured, and the rest were moderately and lightly injured. The victims of the fight were taken to the Laniado and Hillel Yaffe hospitals. Six people were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the melee.
According to the police, the fight broke out between supporters and opponents of the Eritrean regime. A helicopter was launched to the area, and the police used stun grenades and fired into the air to break up the fight. In one of the videos taken at the scene, a man is seen lying on the ground attacked by a group of men who surrounded him. According to resident testimonies, the fight started in the market area on Herzl Street. "Suddenly we heard the screams of dozens of people, smashing glasses and bottles," said Gil Barmov, who works in a nearby store. "It was a terrible mess, we were afraid to leave the stores, we saw people running and hitting each other with sticks."
The mayor of the city, Miriam Fierberg Icher, said that she backs the policemen who broke up the fight, and claimed that its participants came from outside the city to ignite a riot that started in Tel Aviv. "I call on the government to conduct a recalculation of the course regarding those foreign workers who allow themselves to go berserk and resort to violence," said Fierberg Icher.
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir announced that "the rampage of illegal infiltrators in our cities is extremely serious. Therefore, I and the Commissioner agreed to continue to operate the administrative route. Suspects who have an evidentiary difficulty against them on suspicion of murder should be arrested in an administrative way. As far as I'm concerned, of course they must be deported from the country, but if the High Court doesn't allow it - then at the very least, let the rioters sit in prison."
Since the violent riots in Tel Aviv, in which almost 200 people were injured, the clashes between supporters and opponents of the regime living in Israel have increased significantly. 70 Eritreans have since been arrested on suspicion of participating in the difficult clashes, and 40 of them are still currently in administrative detention.
