As Israel’s conflict with Gaza escalates and Lebanon comes under fire, reports suggest that Israel is enticing African asylum seekers to join the war in exchange for permanent residency. This controversial move has sparked outrage among refugee rights groups and lawmakers in Israel.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that asylum seekers are being recruited to participate in military operations in Gaza in return for the promise of permanent status. This has drawn criticism from NGOs like Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, ASSAF, and the African Refugees Development Centre, who condemned the initiative as a moral low point.
Despite facing discrimination and challenges in Israel, African asylum seekers have long been denied basic rights and opportunities for legal status. While the government provides benefits to Jewish migrants, non-Jewish asylum seekers are marginalized and restricted from fully integrating into Israeli society.
Experts see this recruitment as a dangerous exploitation of vulnerable individuals, with critics pointing out that it serves the government’s goal of reducing the number of African asylum seekers in Israel. The move has raised concerns about the ethics of using asylum seekers in military efforts and reflects a larger issue of systemic inequality within Israel.
Overall, this development highlights the complex dynamics at play in Israeli society and the challenges faced by marginalized communities seeking refuge in the country.