Indian workers freed after being lured under false promises and held without passports
Israeli authorities have rescued ten Indian construction workers who were held for over a month in the West Bank after being stripped of their passports.
The Indian Embassy in Israel confirmed their safety and assured ongoing communication with Israeli officials to ensure their well-being, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Indian workers were lured to the West Bank under false promises and had their passports confiscated
The Israeli Population and Immigration Authority reported that the workers were tricked by Palestinians with promises of employment and taken to the West Bank village of al-Zaayem. Their passports were confiscated and allegedly used in attempts to cross into Israel illegally.
Israeli forces conduct overnight rescue operation with multiple agencies involved.
The rescue operation, carried out overnight, involved the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), and the Justice Ministry
The workers have been moved to a secure location while their employment status is reviewed.
The IDF detected the fraudulent use of the Indian passports and intercepted suspects attempting to bypass Israeli checkpoints, which led to the workers’ rescue.
Israel has seen a significant increase in Indian construction workers, with approximately 16,000 arriving in the past year. This surge followed Israel’s decision to restrict Palestinian construction workers from entering the country after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
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