Asian migrant workers are caught along both fronts of Israel’s war
The death of an Indian worker in northern Israel this week has brought into the spotlight the risk faced by agricultural labourers - many of whom are migrants - on both fronts of Israel's war on Gaza.
On Monday, an Indian man was killed and several other migrant workers were seriously wounded by anti-tank missiles fired from Lebanon, while cultivating an orchard in the northern town of Margaliot.
The man killed was identified by Indian media as Patnibin Maxwell. He had arrived in Israel from Kerala just two months ago. India has since urged its citizens to move to safer areas of Israel.
It was not the first incident of migrant agricultural workers being caught up in the conflict: 32 Thai farmers were killed and 23 taken captive during Hamas's surprise attack on southern Israel on 7 October.
Since October, a mass exodus of Thai workers and a suspension of contracts for Palestinian farm labourers has left Israel's agricultural sector in its worst-ever crisis, according to officials. New workers have arrived from other countries, like India, in an attempt to make up the shortfall.
Campaigners and experts on migrant workers in Israel have told Middle East Eye that labourers continue to work dangerously close to rocket fire, and in poor working and living conditions.
Read more: Asian migrant workers are caught along both fronts of Israel’s war
