Pakistan: Five arrested over working in Israel

Pakistan has arrested five nationals for working in Israel over suspicions that they illegally migrated to the country.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested five out of eight suspects wanted for violating the Passport Act 1974 and the Emigration Ordinance 1979.

Pakistani passports specifically state that citizens may not travel to Israel.

“The suspects were working as helpers and car washers in Tel Aviv,” Abdul Ghafoor, an FIA spokesperson, told Arab News.

“They stayed in Tel Aviv for four to seven years.” 

He added the men had entered Israel through Jordan on a European visa, with the help of an Israeli agent.

They said the investigation had tracked remittence payments made to Pakistan.

Pakistan and Israel have never had official relations and successive Pakistani government have repeatedly said there would be no recognition of Israel without resolution of the Palestinian situation.

However, the two countries have maintained discreet unofficial ties for many decades, with a British government report in 2013 suggesting Israel had sold Pakistan military technology, which was publicly denied by both countries.

A delegation of Pakistani-Americans went to Israel in 2022, provoking outrage in Pakistan, with then prime minister Imran Khan accusing them of seeking to undermine the country's diplomatic stance on the Israel-Palestine issue.