The latest scandal of Israeli officials telling African asylum seekers that they would be given legal status if they served in the Israeli army and fought in the war against Gaza is causing shock waves.
The story first reported in Haaretz and then the other Israeli newspapers is trending on the social media with much commentary.
There are approximately 30,000 African asylum seekers in Israel, primarily young men who are looking for permanent stay in Israel.
Israeli officials have latched on the idea and gave decided to lure them to join the Israeli army to fight in Gaza, and no doubtedly in the brewing war on the Israeli-Lebanese border with Hezbollah despite the risks
Many of these workers, including around 3,500 Sudanese citizens, have sneeked into Israel and hold temporary status granted by Israeli courts due to delays in processing asylum applications.
Although the story have only just come to light, Israeli officials have tried to recruit these workers soon after the war on Gaza started after 7 October, 2023, and have continued eversince, especially in the months when the war become “bloody” for the Israelis.
Sources within Israel’s security establishments show that this initiative, being conducted under the guidance of legal advisers, aims to utilize asylum seekers’ desire for permanent residency to bolster military personnel and exploiting vulnerable people from Africa for these combative and quite often dangerous roles acccording to the Quds News Network.
This is while the Anadolu, ran the Haaretz story saying the Israeli government is telling its asylum seekers from different African countries it would grant them permanent residency if the join the Israeli army and fight in its war against the Palestinians in Gaza.
It added that Israeli defense officials are realizing that they could use the asylum seekers to bolster their military presence in Gaza by exploiting their deep wishes to obtain permanent residence in Israel.
Citing defense officials, the newspaper says these procedures are conducted “in an organized manner, with the guidance of defense establishment legal advisers,” according to the Turkish news agency.
However, “the ethical considerations of recruiting asylum seekers have not been addressed,” and so far, “no asylum seekers who contributed to the war effort have been granted official status.”
“Some people have expressed objections to the practice, arguing that it exploits people who have fled their countries due to war,” according to the Haaretz daily stated, adding that these voices have been silenced.
The South African Foreign Ministry on 18 December, 2023 warned that any South African citizens who join the Israeli army in the ongoing Gaza conflict could face prosecution at home.
The South African government is gravely concerned by reports that some South African citizens and permanent residents have joined or are considering joining the Israeli forces in the war in Gaza and the other Occupied Palestinian Territories, a ministry statement said as reported by Anadolu.
“Such action can potentially contribute to the violation of international law and the commission of further international crimes, thus making them liable for prosecution in South Africa,” it emphasized.
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