Seven people were arrested and eight others deported after stopping a vehicle carrying 15 Palestinian residents who were suspected of entering Israel illegally last week, the Israel Police confirmed.
The suspects were reportedly traveling to work in Bnei Brak, where they had planned an extended stay, the Police Spokesperson’s Unit said.
According to the statement, the operation was carried out by officers from the Shalem Police Station as part of the “Shield of the Capital” initiative, which aims to enforce laws against illegal entry and stay, maintain security in the capital, and prevent terrorist entry.
Police said the vehicle raised suspicion, and inspection revealed the 15 Palestinians, some of whom had criminal records. Seven were arrested, questioned, and will face indictments, while the others were deported to the West Bank.
Over 45 undocumented Palestinians detained in police raids
These arrests came after the Israel Police closed 10 businesses and detained over 45 undocumented Palestinians illegally working in the area during a large-scale operation across the Coastal District in early February, according to the Israel Police Spokesperson Unit.
The operation, which targeted the employment of individuals entering Israel without valid permits, involved inspections of more than 120 businesses. Coastal District Commander, Chief Yechiel Bohadana, signed administrative closure orders for 10 establishments found to have illegally employed undocumented workers, and police detained the employers involved.
"Coastal District officers, alongside the Licensing and Security Unit, conducted extensive patrols and rigorous inspections of businesses and city streets," the Police Spokesperson's Unit stated. The raids focused on hubs in Haifa, Wadi Ara, Zichron Yaakov, and the Krayot.
Asher Smith contributed to this report.