India pauses movement of its construction workers to Israel

New Delhi advising against travel amid threat of war between Israel and Iran

- Nirmala Ganapathy

The Indian government's plans to send hundreds of construction workers to Israel have been upended by the threat of war between Iran and the Jewish state, with New Delhi issuing an advisory against travel to either country "till further notice".

"There is a pause we understand from the Indian side," a spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi confirmed to The Straits Times. "They have a travel restraint. We are hoping it is going to be lifted soon."

The Indian advisory, issued on April 12 due to the "prevailing situation in the region", came in the wake of a suspected Israeli strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus, Syria, on April 1 that killed a senior Iranian general, besides 12 other officers.

Iran vowed retaliation, which came in the form of a barrage of missiles and waves of drones directed at Israel on April 13, heightening tensions across the Middle East, which is home to nine million Indians.

With Israel promising a military response, the situation is likely to worsen in the near future.

The Israeli government had planned to employ 6,000 Indians in Israel between April and May, amid a shortage of construction workers, according to a report by Indian news agency Press Trust of India. The report, quoting a statement from the Israeli government, said it would be the largest influx of foreign workers to Israel.

This was pursuant to an agreement inked between the two countries in 2023 to employ 42,000 Indians to work in Israel's construction and nursing sectors.