African migrants in Israel are planning mass demonstrations in front of a number of foreign embassies and diplomatic offices to protest against the government’s immigration policies.

The migrants, mainly from Eritrea and South Sudan, are also striking over the long delays in processing asylum requests and poor detention conditions.

On Sunday, tens of thousands of African migrants gathered in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square holding signs such as, “we are not criminals, we are refugees”.

“Ibrahim”, an asylum seeker from Sudan, told Yediot Ahronot that since he arrived in Israel three years ago, his asylum application had not been looked at. “They keep extending our visas and not letting us live in dignity. We are in despair because of this,” he said.

Dawit, an Eritrean immigrant, told Channel 2 news that he loved his home country, but at the moment it was far too dangerous for him to go back.

“I love my country, the land I grew up in. My family is in Eritrea. But I can’t live there now. Until I can, I only want Israel to treat me like a human being.”