Indian employees depart for Israel to fill labor scarcity brought on by conflict

• Dozens of Indian building employees departed for Israel this week as the continuing conflict between Israel and Hamas rages on in Gaza.
• Israel faces a labor scarcity after barring tens of 1000’s of Palestinian employees following a lethal assault by Hamas final October.
• Roughly 18,000 Indians are presently employed in Israel, primarily in caregiving roles, officers say.

Dozens of Indian building employees left for Israel this week to take up jobs there because the practically six-month conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to rage in Gaza, officers mentioned Thursday.

Israel is dealing with a labor scarcity after barring tens of 1000’s of Palestinian employees following Hamas’ lethal assault on Oct. 7 assault on Israel that triggered the conflict. Nonetheless, the Indian employees departing this week are going below an settlement signed by the 2 nations earlier than the outbreak of hostilities, Indian Exterior Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal mentioned.

“The primary batch of individuals have gone to Israel. For us their security is essential, and we’ve got urged the Israeli authorities to do their greatest to deal with their security and well-being,” Jaiswal instructed reporters Thursday.

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Jaiswal mentioned 18,000 Indians had been presently employed in Israel, most of them caregivers.

Indian workers aspiring to be hired for jobs in Israel line up during a recruitment drive on Jan. 25, 2024, in Lucknow, India. Dozens of Indian construction workers left for Israel this week to take up jobs there despite the Israel-Hamas war that has devastated Gaza, officials said on Thursday.  (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, file)

During a visit to India last May by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, the two countries signed an agreement to allow about 40,000 Indians to work in the fields of construction and nursing in Israel.

An initial batch of more than 60 construction workers departed Tuesday, and the Israeli ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, posted images of a send-off ceremony for the group on the X social media website.

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In January, thousands of Indian laborers had flocked to government recruitment centers that were set up in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana looking for candidates for jobs in Israel.

India has condemned the Hamas attack on Israel, but voted in favor of the U.N. Common Meeting decision final December that referred to as on Israel to halt its combating to permit for humanitarian help.

It additionally has reiterated its help for the two-state answer to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.