India sends over 20,000 workers to 'Israel' as Palestinian labor ban deepens

India has confirmed that more than 20,000 of its citizens have relocated to 'Israel' to fill jobs once held by Palestinians, following the outbreak of the war on Gaza.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh told parliament last week that between November 2023 and July 2025, 20,000 Indian nationals had taken up roles in the country. He said 6,730 construction workers and 44 caregivers were sent under a bilateral labor agreement signed in November 2023. An additional 7,000 caregivers and 6,400 construction workers entered 'Israel' through “private channels,” Singh noted.

The figures mark the most detailed disclosure yet of India’s role in providing manpower to 'Israel', highlighting how New Delhi has become a key player in sustaining the 'Israeli' economy despite mounting calls from the international community to isolate the country over its ongoing war on Gaza.

'Israel’s' assault on Gaza has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, including over 18,430 children. The bombardment, recognised by several governments, rights organisations, and legal experts as genocide, has also left hundreds of thousands injured and pushed the entire population toward famine under 'Israel’s' continued blockade.

- labor crisis in 'Israel' -

The war has triggered severe economic disruption in 'Israel', compounded by the cancellation of work permits for over 70,000 Palestinians. The construction industry was among the hardest hit, facing delays and rising costs. In November 2023, the Israel Builders Association publicly urged the government to recruit labor from India.

Within months, thousands of Indian men queued for hours outside recruitment centres across multiple states, hoping for a position. Economists said these scenes exposed the deep inequality in India’s economic growth, with many citizens desperate for stable employment despite the country’s reputation as one of the fastest-growing economies. A 2024 World Inequality Lab report ranked India among the most unequal nations in terms of income, with full-time work increasingly scarce.

The mass recruitment drive drew criticism from labor advocates. The All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) urged citizens to refuse the jobs, warning, “We call upon all workers to reject such ‘suicidal projects’ that would befall immense hardship and risk to their life!”

Recruitment agency Dynamic Staffing Services, which says it has facilitated thousands of hires, promoted the positions as offering wages up to three times higher than in India. It described India’s contribution to 'Israel’s' rebuilding efforts as “crucial,” adding, “In the past, Israel had depended on Palestinian and migrant workers from other nations, but the political situation has left a big vacuum. As a result of this urgent requirement, Israel has sought help from India, and this relationship is steadily forming the basis of the nation’s reconstruction process."