NEW DELHI (AP) —

Dozens of Indian development employees left for Israel this week to take up jobs there because the practically six-month war between Israel and Hamas continues to rage in Gaza, officers stated Thursday.

Israel is going through a labor scarcity after barring tens of 1000’s of Palestinian employees following Hamas’ lethal assault on Oct. 7 assault on Israel that triggered the warfare. However, the Indian employees departing this week are going underneath an agreement signed by the two countries earlier than the outbreak of hostilities, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal stated.

“The first batch of individuals have gone to Israel. For us their security is essential, and we’ve got urged the Israeli authorities to do their finest to handle their security and well-being,” Jaiswal advised reporters Thursday.

Jaiswal stated 18,000 Indians had been presently employed in Israel, most of them caregivers.

During a go to to India final May by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, the 2 nations signed an settlement to permit about 40,000 Indians to work within the fields of development and nursing in Israel.

An preliminary batch of greater than 60 development employees departed Tuesday, and the Israeli ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, posted photos of a send-off ceremony for the group on the X social media web site.

In January, 1000’s of Indian laborers had flocked to authorities recruitment facilities that had been arrange within the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana in search of candidates for jobs in Israel.

India has condemned the Hamas assault on Israel, however voted in favor of the U.N. General Assembly decision final December that known as on Israel to halt its preventing to permit for humanitarian help.

It additionally has reiterated its assist for the two-state answer to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.