Indian nurses in Israel are in no hurry to fly back home amid raging battle

Angel Thomas, 34, works as a caregiver on the outskirts of Netanya city in Israel, looking after an octogenarian Jewish couple for three years. As we write this, her area is safe though the city roads have military presence.

“We have received guidelines to move to a ‘safe room’ when we hear sirens. However, at this moment, there hasn’t been any widespread panic here like what’s happening in areas closer to the Gaza Strip,” said Angel over phone.

“I would rather not get prominently featured in media as it could unnecessarily worry my family back there. You know how it is; even if I confirm I am safe, not everyone will believe it,” she told The Federal.

Angel admitted the situation was indeed serious in areas near Gaza and West Bank. “My friends there are understandably concerned. I haven’t been able to reach them since the day before.”

Troubled Israel

According to Sherli Benny who is from Idukki, the situation is tense but they have no other choice but to stay there. Sherli has been in Israel for 14 long years. She lost her sister-in-law Soumya in a missile attack in 2021. The Israeli government has been taking care of Soumya’s family after the incident.

“It is frightening to hear the sirens and the missile blasts which follow. My workplace's lack of adequate safe spaces is a cause for concern. Following the directive to stay indoors, we haven’t ventured outside for four days. While this isn’t our first time, we are hopeful and praying that things will return to normal soon.”

Sheeja Anand, a 41-year-old nurse from Kerala, who works in Ashkelon, sustained injuries in the air raids last Sunday. The missile hit her building while on a video call with her husband in India.

Having spent the last seven years in Israel, Sheeja has become accustomed to the turmoil and “acts of terror” that have sadly become a part of daily life in Israel. She has undergone multiple surgeries, according to the family.

Since the Hamas incursion into Israel on October 7, the situation has relatively improved as the IDF has regained control over cities and villages on the border. However, on the flip side, life in West Bank and Gaza Strip has turned extremely dire.

Conflict zone

Several Indians (including many from Kerala reside near the Palestinian territories, but none of them are willing to share their experiences with the media. A paramedic working at the West Bank border, spoke to The Federal, but chose to remain anonymous.

“The situation is very serious here too. The reports from Gaza and nearby regions are extremely distressing. They have lost electricity. Communication has already been disrupted. To my knowledge, there are not many Indians in those regions,” he said.

A majority of Indians present there primarily work as construction labourers for Middle Eastern companies based in Gulf countries such as Qatar. “We do not have precise statistics regarding their numbers,” says Jasmine Shah, leader of the United Nurses Association.

“Living here for years, we have grown accustomed to conflict situations. However, this time, we understand it is significantly more severe. But returning home isn’t a viable choice for us. If we were to return home now, re-entry in the foreseeable future would be uncertain. Becoming jobless is truly an unimaginable prospect,” said Jithin A, a nurse working in Tel Aviv, the Israeli capital.

“However, media coverage, especially in Kerala, has made our families anxious and they are kind of pressurizing us to return. I think you should have some restraint in ‘war reporting’. After all, it has become somewhat one-sided now, looking from Tel Aviv,” another nurse told The Federal.

WhatsApp links

Norka, the Kerala government agency handling expatriate affairs, reports that over 7,000 nursing professionals are employed in Israel. However, it is important to note that a significant number of those residing there may not be included in this database.

“We maintain WhatsApp groups for nurses working in those areas with over a thousand members. Surprisingly, not a single member has requested assistance for evacuation,” said Jasmine Shah.

“They emphasise that the situation in Israel is not alarming, except for the conflict zones near the Gaza border. Outside these areas, everything is relatively normal despite occasional sirens and the need to seek shelter from missiles – something they don’t find overly concerning,” said Shah.

“Many of them invested significant amounts of money to go there, and now nobody is willing to jeopardise the lives they have established.”

Professionals from Kerala with qualifications in nursing and other paramedical fields have consistently shown interest in relocating to Israel, opting for lower-level roles such as caregivers.

This is primarily due to unemployment and the advantage of not needing additional exams or tests for these positions. These roles are often regarded similar to domestic help but offer a reasonable salary. The main drawback is the restriction on bringing their families along.

Better pay, perks

Several nurses who spoke with The Federal felt the Indian government should closely monitor the situation and step in to facilitate their evacuation only if the situation worsens considerably.

In Indian cities, a graduate nurse typically earns an average of Rs 15,000-20,000, often dealing with tough work conditions. In Israel, even a care provider earns 10 times more with additional perks like free food and accommodation. In the actual para-medical and nursing profession, the pay and professional standing are even better, which entices them to stay on despite the challenging circumstances. Many young nursing professionals are burdened with significant educational loans to repay and have families to support in Kerala.

Based on Indian official records, the Indian population in Israel exceeds 20,000. However, according to estimates from nurses’ associations, it is believed the number is far more than that.