In April, around 70 Palestinian men climbed into the back of a rubbish truck, hoping to cross into Israel undetected and search for work.
Quickly discovered at a West Bank checkpoint, the men were left to languish under trash bags for over two hours in sweltering heat, before being pulled out and detained by Israeli soldiers.
Majd, a 37-year-old from Beit Furik, just south of Nablus, was one of the labourers crammed inside. He asked that his real name not be used.
“At the beginning when they stopped us, we were afraid to go to jail,” he told Middle East Eye. “Then when it took longer to get out, we were scared to die.”
The lengths Majd has gone to in order to find work – and provide for his family – are far from unique. In the immediate aftermath of 7 October 2023, Israel cancelled around 150,000 work permits. As savings have dried up, many Palestinians have had no choice but to sneak into Israel.
