Arrest of 8 Workers from the West Bank and Closure of Businesses in Shaqib al-Salam

SadaNews - Israeli occupation police arrested eight Palestinians from the West Bank, claiming that they "were working without legal permits in the village of Shaqib al-Salam" in the Negev region of southern Israel, according to a police statement released this morning, Sunday.

The police reported that "the campaign also resulted in the issuance of four administrative orders to close commercial establishments in the village, including a supermarket, a bakery, and several construction sites, after suspicions arose regarding the employment of workers without permits," as part of what it described as "efforts to enhance public security and enforce the law."

Pursuit of Workers

Israeli police continue to pursue Palestinian workers under the pretext of "their presence in the country without permits," along with pursuing their employers and those who assist them.

Palestinian workers who have permits face challenges when heading to their workplaces, as they start their day very early before dawn and endure long waits at Israeli military checkpoints, where they undergo humiliating and exhausting searches before continuing on their way to their jobs.

Palestinians, whether they hold permits or not, seek job opportunities inside Israel due to the lack of job opportunities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and because the wages they earn inside are much higher compared to the wages in Palestinian Authority areas, amid Israeli policies that have weakened the Palestinian economy.

Israeli police continue their campaigns in Arab towns in the Galilee, Triangle, Negev, and coastal cities, searching for Palestinian workers from the West Bank. These pursuits have turned into a daily nightmare for these workers, especially with the involvement of special units in the arrest operations.

The police arrest workers from the West Bank and Gaza Strip who have entered Israel in search of a livelihood for their families, while some are forced to sleep in harsh conditions, such as on the ground, in warehouses, or under trees, to keep their jobs, amid the continued policy of economic strangulation and prevention of development in the West Bank, which suffers from high unemployment and poverty rates.