Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli authorities sent a Sudanese citizen to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday evening, a prisoners' rights group said.

According to the Gaza-based Wa’ed Society for Detainees and Liberated, Israeli authorities forced Mike Joel into Gaza from Israel.

The "deportee" apparently worked in Israel for one year before he was detained by Israeli forces and sent to Gaza through the Erez crossing.

The Israelis claimed he was illegally living and working in Israel, according to the Wa'ed Society, but it was not immediately clear why he was sent to Gaza rather than the Sudan or elsewhere.

It was also not clear which Israeli authorities transported the man to the coastal enclave, although an Israeli military spokeswoman said the army was neither aware of the incident nor involved.