Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants Eritrean refugees deported following violent clashes between opponents and supporters of President Isaias Afwerki in Tel Avis. President Afwerki ruled Eritrea in a one-party dictatorship since 1991.

Netanyahu has ordered the activation of a plan to remove the country’s African migrants. The remarks came a day after bloody protests by rival groups of Eritreans in south Tel Aviv left dozens of people injured.

People opposed to the Eritrean government fought with regime supporters before the embassy in Tel Aviv. 

Israeli security forces responded with stun grenades and live ammunition. 

At least 150 people were injured. 

Violence also broke out in Zurich, Switzerland, and in Bergen, Norway, as rival Eritrean factions marked their national independence day. 

Netanyahu requested that the ministers present him with plans “for removing all the other illegal infiltrators” and noted in his remarks that the Supreme Court struck down some measures meant to coerce the refugees to leave.

Under international law, Israel cannot forcibly send migrants back to a country where their life or liberty may be at risk.

Ahead of an official visit to Cyprus, Netanyahu said the ministerial team was seeking to deport 1,000 supporters of the Eritrean government who were involved in Saturday’s violence. 

Eritrea is a country in the Horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa. Its capital and largest city is Asmara. It is bordered by Ethiopia in the south, Sudan in the west, and Djibouti in the southeast. 

The country’s population is 6 million.