March 7, 2025: In a major rescue operation, ten Indian construction workers trapped in Palestine’s West Bank have been safely recovered by Israeli forces. The workers were reportedly held in the village of al-Zaayem for nearly a month after being stripped of their passports.

According to reports by news agency PTI, the workers had originally arrived in Israel for construction jobs but were deceived into traveling to the West Bank. Their passports were allegedly misused by Palestinians to cross Israeli checkpoints.

Israeli news portal Ynetnews reported that security forces intercepted suspects at a checkpoint, leading to the workers’ recovery. The overnight rescue operation was carried out by Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and the Justice Ministry. The rescued workers have been moved to a secure location while officials assess their employment status.

The Indian Embassy in Israel confirmed that an investigation is underway and has urged Israeli authorities to prioritize the safety and well-being of the rescued individuals.

This incident comes amid a growing presence of Indian workers in Israel’s construction sector. Over 16,000 Indian laborers have arrived in Israel in the past year, following the ban on tens of thousands of Palestinian workers after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.

Further details on the case are expected as authorities continue their probe.