Four Indian citizens were attempting to illegally cross into the Jewish state from Jordan, allegedly on false promises of jobs

A 47-year-old native Indian citizen has reportedly been shot dead by Jordanian border forces while attempting, with three compatriots, to illegally cross into Israel, the Times of India reported on Monday. The four individuals were reportedly promised work in Israel but were given Jordanian tourist visas.

While attempting to jump the border, Thomas Gabriel Pereira, a native of Kerala in Southern India, died, while two others have reportedly been jailed in Jordan. The issue came to light when Pereira's relative, Edison, returned to India after being deported by Jordan. Edison witnessed the shooting and received medical aid before his deportation.

The Indian embassy in Jordan stated it is in touch with the family of the deceased and is "working closely with Jordanian authorities for the transportation of the mortal remains."

According to media reports, the four individuals were promised jobs in Israel by an unidentified agency, but instead of receiving work visas, they were given Jordanian tourist visas. The agency then instructed them to illegally enter Israel. On February 10, Jordanian soldiers spotted them in a mountain valley and opened fire.

India and Israel entered an agreement in May 2023 that would allow 42,000 Indians to work in the Jewish state's construction and nursing sectors, as. Means of replacing Palestinian labor due to the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The agreement aimed to facilitate regulated migration and protect the rights of Indian migrants in Israel. Since then, more than 20,000 Indians have been recruited, according to local media reports.

Indian construction workers are attracted to Israel due to the promise of significantly higher wages despite the risks associated with the ongoing conflict. Compared to their monthly earnings of $150-$300 in India, Israel offered a minimum of $1,600 per month. The northern Indian states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh had advertised for around 10,000 positions each for construction workers in Israel. Uttar Pradesh had finalized a list of 16,000 candidates to send to Israel for final selection, according to the state labor minister.

Israel's embassy in India claimed that the country was "satisfied" with the workforce that had already arrived under the bilateral agreement. It also noted that reports received by its offices indicated that the majority of Indian construction workers were satisfied with their working conditions and salaries.