Egyptian border police on Friday arrested 14 refugees from the genocide in Sudan's Darfur region who were trying to enter Israel via the Sinai Peninsula.

Thousands of Sudanese of African descent have fled to Egypt over the past several years as a result of an ongoing onslaught by a Khartoum-backed Arab militia in Darfur.

Most have complained of harsh treatment at the hands of the Egyptians, and many have decided to seek a better future in Israel.

Israel is engaged in heated debate over what to do with the refugees, though many are now being allowed to work and have expressed great satisfaction over finding themselves in the Jewish state.