The attack on two Indian workers in Ashkelon was coordinated through WhatsApp messages, according to a video report released on February 16 by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN). The footage shows at least two men being assaulted by a group of attackers in what appears to be a public park. Hebrew captions described the incident as a “premeditated” ambush driven by “racism and malice.”KAN’s report alleged that the attackers planned the assault via private messages before targeting the Indian workers in the neighbourhood, carrying out the beating in broad daylight. “Driven by racism and malice, a group of rioters from the south of the country plotted an attack, targeting the Indian workers in the neighborhood, and beat them violently in the heart of a public park,” the broadcaster said.Following the report, the Israeli Embassy in India condemned the assault as “absolutely unacceptable.” In a post on X, the embassy confirmed that the perpetrators have been caught, adding, “The Israeli police have caught the perpetrators and will bring them to justice.” Congress leader Pawan Khera described the attack as a “premeditated racist assault” and urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to verify the victims’ condition and ensure access to adequate, free-of-cost medical care if needed. Ashkelon, a city in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip, has recently seen an increase in Indian workers after Israel suspended work permits for thousands of Palestinians following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Recruitment drives in India were launched to fill the resulting labour shortage, particularly in the construction and hospitality sectors.The assault comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Israel from February 25, during which bilateral cooperation, labor mobility, and regional developments are expected to be discussed.
