these Palestinians in the West Bank deprived of work since October 7

For more than six months, thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank have lost their jobs in Israel after their work permits were canceled and they were banned from entering Israeli soil, and now find themselves without income.

Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, more than 120,000 Palestinians from the West Bank have lost their jobs in Israel after their work permits were canceled and they were banned from entering Israeli soil. More than six months later, many are still unemployed, deprived of any source of income.

Before October 7, Ali commuted every day between his town in the West Bank and construction sites in Tel Aviv. But after the Hamas attacks, the father of two’s work permit was canceled. “I was in shock. We, the workers, have nothing to do with this war, we have nothing to do with Hamas. It’s collective punishment. Now I spend my time at home , I no longer have a job, no income, my life has stopped, he testifies. To replace us, Israel is recruiting Chinese, Indian or Thai workers, it’s a calamity”adds Ali.

Reduced from 100 euros to 15 euros per day

Ali had to sell his car to make ends meet. As for Mustafa, a cook in Israel before October 7, he borrowed money from his family and recently found work in a small snack bar. “I just found this little job that allows me to earn around 15 euros a day, while in Israel, I could earn up to 100 euros a day. 15 euros is not enough. I can’t do anything to do with so little. A bag of bread costs 2 euros, a pack of cigarettes almost 7 euros.

“I have three children to support and every month I get into more debt.”

Mustafa, Palestinian from the West Bank

at franceinfo

“It is not fair”accuses Mustafa, “What we want is to live with dignity.” If Israel accelerates the recruitment of foreign workers to replace the Palestinians, the Jewish state plans to let some of them return but under close surveillance.