Hundreds of youths from Darjeeling who work or want to work in Israel are caught in the crossfire between that country and Palestine.

Israel is one of the favoured places for these youths seeking jobs as caregivers for mostly the elderly.

“This is because while similar jobs in Dubai fetch around Rs 20,000 a month, we get anything between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh in Israel,” said a youth from Darjeeling who is working in Ramla, a city which is about an hour’s drive from capital Tel Aviv.

The salary seems relatively good, but the youths have to first shoulder the huge expense of paying a network of agents — in the Darjeeling hills, in Delhi and in Israel — to land a job in that country.

“I came here in 2018 after paying Rs 10 lakh to agents for a job. Now, a man has to pay Rs 25 lakh or Rs 26 lakh to get work as a caregiver in Israel. A woman has to pay Rs 18 lakh to agents for a similar job,” the Darjeeling youth said.

The youth, who borrowed money from his relatives and friends, took one-and-a-half years to repay the amount.

“Things are slightly better here for me as my wife too is in Israel and earns around Rs 2 lakh a month. She has been here for the last 10 years. But for those coming to Israel by paying Rs 25 lakh, it takes more than three years to clear all the debts and make some savings,” the youth said.

Another Darjeeling youth said he was asked to pay Rs 25 lakh for a job in Israel. “I have been told I will be taught Hebrew and also provided with basic training in caregiving,” said the Darjeeling resident who does not know when he would get to go to Israel under the present circumstances.

The debt-clearance duration forces people to stay back in Israel despite hostile situations.

“In 2020, I developed complications in my gall bladder following Covid-19 vaccination. Doctors advised me to return to Darjeeling but I refused,” said the first youth, who has visited Darjeeling, where his elderly parents live, only once since he left in 2018.

There was also an instance of a woman from the region who returned from Israel in three months after falling sick, he said. “After another four-five months, she returned to Israel paying another Rs 15 lakh, but unfortunately she fell ill again. She ended up losing around Rs 30 lakh,” he said.

Many people this newspaper spoke to over the phone in Israel, however, said they were safe and there was no reason for panic yet.

“We have been told to stock supplies of fruits, batteries and water for at least three days. Every building has a bunker or a bunker-like area. We need to shift to these places when told,” said a migrant worker.

Those working in Israel said they understood that the country was a “conflict-prone” area. “The security system is strong. Systems like the Iron Dome (missile interceptor) and others are in place,” said a worker.