Israel brings back 10 Indian workers lured to West Bank village by Palestinians

(Courtesy: Reuters)

Israeli authorities have brought 10 missing Indian workers back to the country after they were traced to a village in the West Bank, the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv said on Thursday. The construction workers had been held for over a month after being stripped of their passports.

“While the matter is still under investigation, the Embassy is in touch with the Israeli authorities & have requested to ensure their safety & well-being,” the Indian embassy in Israel posted on X.

Israeli authorities traced 10 missing Indian construction workers to West Bank & have brought them back to Israel.While the matter is still under investigation, the Embassy is in touch with the Israeli authorities & have requested to ensure their safety & well-being @MEAIndia

India in Israel (@indemtel) March 6, 2025

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.

About 16,000 Indian workers arrived in Israel in the past year after Israel’s decision to bar tens of thousands of Palestinian construction workers from entering the country after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack.