Israel has reportedly been recruiting African asylum seekers to participate in military operations in Gaza in exchange for the prospect of settled status in the country. This controversial programme is being conducted under the guidance of legal advisers from the Israeli defence establishment, according to sources cited by Haaretz.
There are approximately 30,000 African refugees in Israel, who have long faced pressure from anti-immigrant rhetoric, particularly from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has referred to them as “infiltrators.”
One asylum seeker, identified only as “A,” told Haaretz that he was approached by a security official and offered the opportunity to join the war effort after a two-week training period. The official suggested that participating in these operations could lead to obtaining documents that would grant him official status in Israel.
Despite this, Haaretz reports that none of the refugees who have participated in the operations have received official status so far. Concerns about the ethical implications of such recruitment have also not been addressed by Israeli authorities.
Military sources have confirmed that asylum seekers have been involved in various operations, though specific details about their deployment remain classified under Israeli military censorship.
The issue has sparked debate about the use of vulnerable individuals in life-threatening military operations and the lack of clear legal or ethical oversight.
