Israeli officials have successfully rescued ten Indian construction workers who had been missing in the West Bank for over a month after their passports were confiscated. The Indian Embassy in Israel confirmed their safe return and stated, “While the matter remains under investigation, the Embassy is in contact with Israeli authorities and has urged measures to ensure their safety and well-being.”
The Israeli Population and Immigration Authority revealed that the workers had been enticed to the West Bank village of al-Zaayem by Palestinians with false promises of job opportunities. Their passports were taken from them and were reportedly used in efforts to illegally cross into Israel.
The rescue operation was executed overnight by the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), and the Justice Ministry, as reported by local media. The workers have been relocated to a secure site while authorities assess their employment circumstances.
The IDF discovered the fraudulent usage of the Indian passports and restored them to the rightful holders. According to news outlet Ynetnews, Palestinian individuals utilized these documents to circumvent Israeli checkpoints. Israeli forces managed to apprehend several suspects at a checkpoint, which subsequently led to the recovery of the workers.
Israel has recently experienced a surge in Indian laborers within its construction industry, with approximately 16,000 arriving in the previous year. This trend follows Israel’s decision to deny entry to tens of thousands of Palestinian construction workers post-Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023.
