"Equidem Statement: Israel and Palestinian armed groups must respect rights of workers caught in conflict,"

Israel and Palestinian armed groups must respect the protected status of migrant workers as civilians under international humanitarian law, Equidem said today following the release of migrant worker and other hostages taken by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups during the October 7th attacks on Israel.

Migrant workers from countries including Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal and the Philippines have been killed, injured, taken hostage and subjected to ill treatment due to the ongoing conflict. 

“Yet again, migrant women and men seeking a better life and livelihood abroad end up facing exploitation and abuse. This time, in the most dire of circumstances, they are taken hostage and facing an indiscriminate bombing campaign that may amount to war crimes,” Mustafa Qadri, CEO of Equidem said. 

Foreign state allies of Israel and supporters of Palestinian armed groups must work closely with the governments of migrant worker origin countries to ensure their immediate and unconditional release, along with all other hostages...

“Migrant workers are the backbone of the global economy. Time and time again, Equidem has documented the exploitation and abuse these women and men face on the margins of the societies and economies they help to sustain,” Qadri said...