Israel seeks to recruit 30,000 African asylum seekers into army by offering permanent residency

The Israeli government is luring around 30,000 asylum seekers from African countries to the country by offering them permanent residency if they join the occupation state’s armed forces in their offensive against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, local media disclosed yesterday.

“Defence officials realised they could use the help of the asylum seekers and exploit their desire to obtain permanent status in Israel as an incentive.”

“Israel’s defence establishment is offering African asylum seekers who contribute to the war effort in Gaza – risking their lives – assistance in obtaining permanent status in Israel,” the Israeli daily Haaretz said in an exclusive report.

Citing defence officials, the newspaper said these procedures are conducted “in an organised manner, with the guidance of defence establishment legal advisers.”

However, “the ethical considerations of recruiting asylum seekers have not been addressed.”

So far, “no asylum seekers who contributed to the war effort have been granted official status.”

According to the daily, approximately 30,000 African asylum seekers, the majority of whom are young men, reside in Israel, with about 3,500 Sudanese enjoying temporary status while their asylum applications are pending.

“Some people have expressed objections to the practice, arguing that it exploits people who have fled their countries due to war,” the daily stated, adding that these voices have been silenced.

Israel’s Walla website reported in June that the Israeli occupation army is suffering from a shortage of soldiers.

This came as Haaretz reported that dozens of reserve soldiers announced that they would not return to military service in Gaza, even if they were to be punished.

Israeli media also highlighted that hundreds of reserve soldiers in the Israeli army had travelled abroad without informing their commanders due to the ongoing war on Gaza, where the occupation forces have suffered heavy losses over the past months.

In July, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant revealed that Israel needs 10,000 more soldiers immediately amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

As a result of the shortage, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled unanimously that ultra-Orthodox Jews must be subject to the military draft, after decades of being exempt from military service. According to Gallant, the army can recruit 4,800 soldiers from the ultra-Orthodox community.

Israel has named 709 soldiers who have been killed since 7 October 2023, including 342 who died since it launched its ground offensive in Gaza on 27 October.

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