The new advisory means that Indian labourers will not be able to come to Israel under a government-to-government agreement to work in the construction sector.
NEW DELHI: India issued an advisory on Friday asking citizens not to travel to Iran or Israel in the wake of a sudden increase in tensions between the two nations, and encouraged any Indian nationals living in the two countries to take “utmost precautions” for their safety.
The advisory was issued amidst increasing reports of a potential Iranian attack on Israel or Israeli interests. This followed an Israeli air strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including three generals.
“In view of the current situation in the region, all Indians are advised not to travel to Iran or Israel until further notice,” according to the external affairs ministry’s recommendation.
“All people currently residing in Iran or Israel are asked to contact their respective Indian embassies and register. They are also asked to take extreme measures for their own safety and limit their movements to a minimum,” the advice stated.
There are around 18,000 Indian nationals in Israel, a majority of whom work as caregivers or in fields such as computer technology. Iran is home to approximately 4,000 Indian nationals, including minor traders and intellectuals.
According to sources familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the advisory implied that more Indian workers would be restricted from travelling to Israel under a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement, particularly in the construction sector.
The first batch of 64 Indian labourers arrived in Israel on April 2, with another 6,000 anticipated to arrive in April and May to help Israel’s construction sector overcome a manpower shortfall caused by the removal of work licences for Palestinian workers.
Israeli authorities were also planning to establish an “air shuttle” to bring Indian workers to Israel. This decision came after discussions involving the Prime Minister’s Office, the Finance Ministry, and the Construction Ministry, which agreed to subsidise charter flights for this purpose.
Another 900 Indian construction workers travelled to Israel in recent months on business-to-business contracts. Last week, India urged Israeli authorities to protect the safety and well-being of Indian citizens sent to work in the construction industry.
According to the sources, Indian officials are preparing for several situations, including the possibility of evacuating Indian nationals from Iran and Israel.
India expressed concern last week over an Israeli air strike on a building in the Iranian embassy complex in Damascus on April 1 that killed seven people, including Brig Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who oversaw operations in Syria and Lebanon.
“India is concerned about the increasing tensions in West Asia and their potential to foment greater violence and instability. We urge all parties to refrain from taking measures that violate universally acknowledged principles and standards of international law,” stated Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, on April 4.
Iran has promised a “decisive” retaliation to Israel’s strike, with foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian condemning it as “a violation of all international obligations and conventions.” The anticipated Iranian reprisal has sparked worries of a full-fledged regional conflict in West Asia, home to approximately nine million Indian expats.
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