Daijiworld Media Network - Ashkelon

Ashkelon, Feb 20: Two Indian workers in Ashkelon were reportedly assaulted in a premeditated attack coordinated via WhatsApp messages, according to a video report released by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN). The footage shows at least two men being attacked by a group in what appears to be a public park, with Hebrew captions describing the incident as “driven by racism and malice.”

KAN’s report stated that the attackers had planned the assault through private messaging before targeting the Indian workers in broad daylight, describing it as a “premeditated ambush.”

In response, the Israeli Embassy in India condemned the assault as “absolutely unacceptable” and confirmed on social media that the perpetrators have been apprehended. The embassy stated, “The Israeli police have caught the perpetrators and will bring them to justice.”

Pawan Khera, a leader from the Congress party, termed the assault a “premeditated racist attack” and urged S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, to check on the victims’ condition and ensure they receive free medical care if required.

Ashkelon, a southern Israeli city near the Gaza Strip, has seen an increase in Indian workers following Israel’s suspension of work permits for thousands of Palestinians after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Recruitment drives were launched in India to fill the resulting labour shortage, especially in construction and hospitality sectors.

The assault occurred just days ahead of Narendra Modi’s planned two-day visit to Israel from February 25, where bilateral cooperation, labor mobility, and regional developments are expected to be key discussion points.