Tel Aviv, Sep 16 (V7N) – Israeli defense officials have reportedly initiated a controversial program to recruit African refugees for combat roles in the ongoing conflict against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to a report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, these recruits are being promised the possibility of permanent Israeli citizenship in exchange for their participation.

The scheme, overseen by the Department of Defense's legal advisers, targets the approximately 30,000 African asylum seekers currently residing in Israel. Many of these individuals have faced consistent pressure from anti-immigration politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who frequently refers to them as "infiltrators."

A potential recruit, who ultimately decided not to join, shared with Haaretz that an Israeli security official had approached him, offering him deployment to Gaza after just two weeks of training. The recruit was told that participating in the war effort could lead to receiving documentation and citizenship.

Despite the promises made, Haaretz reported that none of the asylum seekers who have taken part in the conflict so far have been granted formal citizenship. Defense sources acknowledged ethical concerns about the recruitment process, with one military official admitting, "It is a problem... it forces us to consider the ethics of our way of life in Israel."

Due to military restrictions, Haaretz was unable to publish detailed information on how these refugees are being deployed in Gaza. The program's ethical implications have sparked considerable debate, though official acknowledgment of the practice remains limited.

The report has drawn attention from international media outlets such as Middle East Eye, raising further questions about Israel's wartime practices and its treatment of African refugees.

END/AJ/SMA