New Delhi: After the departure of the first batch of Indian construction workers, India has urged Israel to ensure their safety, even as there are growing signs of escalation of the conflict in the region.
On Tuesday, the first batch of 60 Indian construction workers left for Israel under an agreement signed between the two governments.
“As you are aware, these (first batch) workers have gone to Israel as part of a mobility agreement that we have signed with the country,” said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday at a weekly media briefing.
To repeated questions about sending Indian workers to a conflict zone, he said, “This agreement predates the conflict. We are conscious of their safety. We have urged the Israeli authorities to ensure their safety and well-being.”
At the start of the Israel-Hamas war last October, India had organised several evacuation flights for Indian workers. However, most of the 18,000 strong Indian community, working largely as caregivers, stayed back.
Last month, the India’s embassy in Tel Aviv issued an advisory for citizens to leave the border regions of Israel and go to safer places after a rocket strike from Lebanon led to the death of an Indian national working in an orchard.
In answer to a media query whether there was an exception in the agreement on Indian workers being stationed at illegal settlements, the MEA spokesperson didn’t give a direct answer. “You know where construction happens. Construction is happening in areas where relatively economic activities are happening etc. Obviously, those considerations are important.”
