CAIRO, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Egyptian security forces are reported killing increasing numbers of African migrants crossing from Egypt's Sinai desert into Israel, refugee advocates say.
Since Egypt announced its live-fire policy at the Sinai border in the summer of 2007, at least 28 migrants have been killed as they left Egypt for Israel, Amnesty International said.
The rights groups contend the use of deadly force violates international law because the unarmed migrants pose no threat, The Washington Post reported.
Survivors of three border shootings accused Egyptians of killing migrants without warning as they lay on the ground trying to surrender. The Egyptian government denies the allegations.
Refugee advocates say that Israeli and U.S. pressure on Egypt to stop the flow of African migrants into Israel led to the policy. Israeli and U.S. officials deny that but Israel does acknowledge its porous 155-mile border with Egypt needs constant checking to avoid being overwhelmed by migration.
Sudan's government has also urged Egypt to take tough measures against Sudanese citizens, most reportedly from the embattled Darfur region, trying to enter Israel, a country with which Sudan remains officially at war.
Thousands of African migrants continue to cross into Israel despite Egypt's live-fire policy, rights groups said. Egyptian officials said last month that they had arrested 587 migrants at the Sinai border since January.
