Israeli authorities rescued ten Indian construction workers from the West Bank village of al-Zaayem on Thursday after they had gone missing.
“Israeli authorities traced 10 missing Indian construction workers to the West Bank & have brought them back to Israel,” the Indian Embassy in Israel posted on X.
While the investigation is still ongoing, the Embassy stated that it remains in contact with Israeli officials and has urged them to ensure the safety and well-being of the rescued workers.
According to the Times of Israel, the Population and Immigration Authority revealed that the workers had been detained for over a month.
The overnight rescue operation, carried out by Israeli authorities in coordination with the IDF and the Justice Ministry, successfully brought the workers to safety. They have now been relocated to a secure location while their employment status is being reviewed.
The IDF reportedly discovered the unauthorized use of their passports and later returned them to their rightful owners.
As per Ynetnews, Israeli forces intercepted suspects at a checkpoint, which eventually led to the recovery of the Indian workers.
A Jewish Press report revealed that the workers had entered Israel legally, expecting employment in the construction sector. However, after being recruited by a resident of al-Zaayem, their passports were confiscated, leaving them stranded with no means to leave.
Authorities have not disclosed the specific physical conditions in which the workers were held.
Israel’s Interior Minister, Moshe Arbel, assured that his office will “do everything to protect their rights and integrate them into the Israeli labor market.”
Over the past year, approximately 16,000 Indian workers have arrived in Israel to fill labor shortages in the construction industry, following Israel’s decision to ban tens of thousands of Palestinian workers from entering after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack.