The first batch of Indian construction workers bound for jobs in Israel during the conflict there were flagged off by Israeli ambassador Naor Gilon and government officials on April 2.
The Israeli government raised an urgent request for construction workers in November 2023 and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had discussed fast-tracking the process with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December as the country faced major labour shortages after it banned thousands of Palestinians from working in Israel following the terror strikes by Hamas on October 7.
The first group of 64 workers were recruited over the past few months during a massive drive in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. They are part of a requisitioned 10,000-strong workforce that will be flown to Israel over the next few weeks, with batches due to fly almost every day on board Air India and even chartered flights, the National Skill Development Council said in a presentation made during the farewell event hosted by the Israeli Embassy.
