According to Israel’s wishes, workers from the Gaza Strip who have been stuck in Israel since the start of the war are to be sent back to the sealed off area. The security cabinet decided last night that no Palestinians from there should be allowed to come to Israel to work, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced. According to media reports, hundreds or even several thousand workers are affected. Some of them are now said to be in the West Bank. Many are also being held at an army base. According to observers, some of the workers may have leaked information to Hamas, helping to facilitate its October 7 massacre.
Before Hamas’ major attack, it was common practice for thousands of Palestinians to enter Israel with special permits and work there. Many worked in agriculture or construction. Israel wanted to use these economic incentives to offer a way out of poverty in the Gaza Strip, reduce the number of Islamists ruling there and thus create more security in the region. Around half of the 2.2 million people in the Gaza Strip are unemployed.