10 missing Indian workers found and rescued in West Bank after being held for over a month |
Ten Indian workers, who were initially recruited for construction jobs in Israel, were rescued in a coordinated overnight operation by Israeli authorities from a Palestinian village in the West Bank.
The workers had been held for more than a month after their passports were taken.
According to Israeli authorities, the workers were promised employment in the West Bank village of al-Zaayem. However, once they arrived, their passports were confiscated, and there were attempts to use them for easier passage through Israeli checkpoints.
The Indian embassy in Israel confirmed the rescue in a statement on X, saying: “Israeli authorities traced 10 missing Indian construction workers to the West Bank and have brought them back to Israel. While the matter is still under investigation, the embassy is in touch with Israeli authorities and has requested to ensure their safety and well-being.”
The rescue operation was carried out by the Population and Immigration Authority, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and the Justice Ministry. After being freed, the workers were moved to a secure location for further evaluation of their employment status.
The IDF claims that the workers’ passports had been fraudulently used at Israeli checkpoints. The passports were later returned to their rightful owners.
The workers, who had originally come to Israel for construction jobs, were part of a larger influx of foreign workers filling a labour shortage in the country’s construction sector.
The recruitment drive saw nearly 16,000 Indian workers arriving in Israel over the past year to help fill this gap.
Thousands of Indians are flocking to recruitment centres in search of jobs in Israel, despite the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, with many willing to take the risk of working in a war zone despite ethical concerns.
The recruitment drive, which began in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, aimed at filling over 5,000 construction positions in Israel, where the economy faces a labour shortage exacerbated by the conflict.
The applicants, mostly skilled construction workers, are hopeful that these jobs will offer better wages than those available in India.
A construction worker from Lucknow, told that he could earn up to $1,600 a month in Israel, compared to the $360 to $420 he might make in India. “I am going there for my children,” said Singh, acknowledging the risks but stating the lack of job opportunities in India was a driving factor.
The recruitment drive comes after Israel requested more foreign workers, with India agreeing to send skilled labourers as part of a broader labour agreement signed last year.
Under the agreement, up to 40,000 Indian workers will be allowed to take jobs in Israel’s construction and nursing sectors.
Despite the ongoing conflict, many Indian workers are still eager to apply, seeing the opportunity as a potential life-changer.
However, some have raised concerns about security, with one applicant saying that he was questioned about his motivations for taking the job in a country at war. “What should I do? I am unemployed,” he responded.
The recruitment process is overseen by a 15-member Israeli team, who are working with Indian authorities to ensure the smooth recruitment of workers.
The Israeli government is expected to hire thousands of workers for various roles, which they hope will ease the labour shortage caused by the ongoing war.
