Israeli authorities have rescued ten missing Indian construction workers from the West Bank, where they had been held for over a month after being stripped of their passports. The Indian Embassy in Israel confirmed their recovery and stated, “While the matter is still under investigation, the Embassy is in touch with the Israeli authorities & have requested to ensure their safety & well-being.”
According to the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority, the workers were lured to the West Bank village of al-Zaayem by Palestinians under the false promise of employment. Their passports were confiscated and allegedly used in an attempt to cross into Israel illegally.
The rescue operation was carried out overnight by the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), and the Justice Ministry, local media reported. The workers have been moved to a secure location while authorities determine their employment status.
The IDF detected the fraudulent use of the Indian passports and returned them to their rightful owners. News outlet Ynetnews reported that Palestinians had used the documents to bypass Israeli checkpoints. Israeli forces later intercepted some suspects at a checkpoint, which led to the workers’ recovery.
Israel has seen an influx of Indian workers in its construction sector, with around 16,000 arriving in the past year. This recruitment followed Israel’s decision to bar tens of thousands of Palestinian construction workers from entering the country after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack.