Dozens of Palestinians Found Hidden in Garbage Truck at Israel Checkpoint
Jerusalem— Israeli authorities said about 70 Palestinian men were discovered hiding inside a garbage truck at a checkpoint while attempting to enter Israel from the West Bank, in what officials described as an illegal crossing likely driven by the search for work.
Police said the group was found late Monday when officers opened the rear compartment of the vehicle, revealing individuals tightly packed inside the waste container. Footage released by authorities showed armed officers surrounding the truck as the men were ordered out one by one.
Israel’s Defense Ministry said the group had been attempting to “infiltrate central Israel” before being stopped. The men were taken for questioning, while the driver, identified as an Israeli citizen, was arrested for operating without a valid license.
Local police commander Ital Almog described those involved as “illegal entrants,” a term commonly used for Palestinians crossing into Israel without permits, often to seek employment opportunities.
The incident comes amid tighter restrictions on Palestinian labor access to Israel following the October 2023 attack by Hamas, after which Israel revoked tens of thousands of work permits previously issued to Palestinians from the West Bank.
Prior to the restrictions, large numbers of Palestinian workers were employed in Israel, particularly in construction and service sectors. Since then, economic conditions in the West Bank have deteriorated, with limited job availability and significantly lower wages.
Residents in the territory have reported growing financial strain, with some unable to meet basic expenses such as rent, food and utilities. Others have resorted to informal channels, including paying for unauthorized permits or attempting irregular entry into Israel, despite the risk of detention or other consequences.
Israel, which has controlled the West Bank since 1967, has maintained that entry permits for Palestinian workers are subject to security considerations and that it is not obligated to grant access.
