In a major operation, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) rescued 10 Indian workers from a West Bank village at midnight. According to local media reports, the workers had been held captive for over a month and were stripped of their passports by terrorists before crossing into Israeli territory.
According to an Israeli news portal, The Times of Israel, Palestinian groups lured the workers to the West Bank village of Al-Zaayem with promises of employment before confiscating their passports and attempting to use them to cross into Israel, as per authorities. The workers, who had originally come to Israel for construction jobs, were rescued in an overnight operation led by the IDF and the Justice Ministry. They have been moved to a secure location until their employment status is determined.
How Israeli Forces Tracked Indian Workers In A Palestinian Area
According to the reports, Some 16,000 laborers have come to Israel from India in the last year as part of an Israeli government effort to fill in tens of thousands of Palestinian construction workers who were barred from entering Israel after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack. Some workers were lured by the Palestinians to the West Bank village of Al-Zaayem for work.
How Did IDF Learn About Captivity Of Indian Workers?
According to Israeli media reports, the rescue of the Indian workers began when Israeli forces intercepted suspects at a checkpoint, uncovering their captivity. The Palestinians had allegedly taken the workers’ passports and attempted to use them to cross into Israel undetected.
In a swift overnight operation, the Population and Immigration Authority, along with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Justice Ministry, worked together to bring the workers to safety. They have now been moved to a secure location, where they will remain until their employment status is clarified.
Indian Embassy Reaction
The Indian Embassy in Israel said that the matter is under investigation. It added that it has urged Israeli authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of the Indian workers.
