Alleged Israeli journalist arrested by Egyptian officials along the border

Egypt arrests alleged Israeli along border

JERUSALEM — Israeli Foreign Ministry and military officials are investigating reports Monday that Egyptian security forces arrested a man claiming to be an Israeli journalist as he allegedly tried to sneak across the porous border with African migrants.

Israeli officials say they have not been able to confirm the reports or the identity of the arrested man. A medical official in the Egyptian city of Rafah said Monday the 30-year-old Israeli hurt his hand on the barbed wire fence along the border.

They say he was treated and later discharged to security.

An Egyptian security official said the Israeli had no identification papers and no money. He told his investigators he was a journalist reporting on African migrants sneaking into Israel from Egypt.

The official said a Ghanian was also arrested, while others fled.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the arrest.

Smugglers aid hundreds of African migrants to cross into Israel every year from Egypt.