Over 45 undocumented Palestinians detained in police raids
The operation, which targeted the employment of individuals entering Israel without valid permits, involved inspections of more than 120 businesses.
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 on Sunday, 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.
Police noted that unauthorized entry from the West Bank is frequently linked to security-related incidents, prompting the intensified enforcement. Those apprehended, along with their employers, were detained for questioning and transferred to police custody.
An IDF soldier operating in the West Bank, published on February 6, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)
Legal and security implications of undocumented employment
Chief Superintendent Avraham Barsano, the Coastal District Operations Officer, noted that the police remain committed to addressing the legal and security implications of undocumented employment.
The Sunday raid followed a period of intensified activity by Israel Police, where police have increased their operations to address reports of undocumented labor in the region.
According to reports by the Israel Police Spokesperson Unit, similar large-scale operations have occurred frequently since the start of 2026, including a week-long high-profile crackdown across the Northern District that resulted in the closure of 7 businesses and the arrest of more than 50 people illegally residing in Israel.
