Egyptian authorities on Thursday arrested six Eritreans attempting to illegally cross Egypt's border with Israel, security sources said.
One source said the migrants were apprehended in central Sinai in close proximity to the border.
The migrants told interrogators they sought employment in Israel, and that they had each paid traffickers US$1000.
Eritrea’s embassy in Cairo was informed of the arrests.
Israel claims roughly 10,000 Africans have entered its borders illegally via Sinai in recent years.
International organizations routinely accuse Egypt of using excessive force on African migrants. Egypt, meanwhile, contends it has the right to use force to protect its national security.
Egyptian authorities throughout 2010 have killed 24 African migrants. At least 19 were killed in 2009.
