Indian workers in Israel have called for a full investigation and accountability after an Indian caregiver was fatally stabbed last month, highlighting concerns over the safety of foreign workers employed in private homes.
Rajeev Acharya, an Indian domestic worker, was killed on July 23 in an attack allegedly carried out by Avior Zaken, the grandson of the elderly couple for whom Acharya worked, according to Indian media reports.
Israeli authorities have indicted Zaken over the killing, with reports saying he faces a charge of premeditated murder. The investigation into the circumstances of the death remains under way.
The Indian workers’ community has urged Israeli authorities to pursue the case fully, compensate Acharya’s family and strengthen protections for Indian workers against violence and abuse, according to NDTV.
The case has drawn particular attention to the risks faced by caregivers who live inside the homes where they are employed, potentially leaving them vulnerable to abuse in private settings.
India’s embassy in Tel Aviv said on Wednesday that it was in contact with Israeli authorities, who had informed it that a suspect had been arrested and that an investigation was continuing to establish the circumstances of the incident.
The killing comes as the number of Indian workers in Israel has grown significantly in recent years.
India and Israel signed an agreement in 2023 to facilitate the arrival of more than 42,000 Indian workers, including 34,000 for construction jobs and 8,000 for elderly-care positions.
Demand for foreign labour increased after Israel revoked work permits for large numbers of Palestinian workers following the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023. Israeli construction industry representatives subsequently pushed for the recruitment of tens of thousands of workers from India.
Thousands of Indians have since sought employment in Israel amid limited job opportunities and low wages at home.
The expansion has also faced opposition from Indian trade unions and activists, who have urged New Delhi to stop sending workers to Israel and have criticised India’s broader relationship with the country during the Gaza conflict.
Indian media reported that agreements signed in February 2026 could eventually facilitate the arrival of up to 100,000 Indian workers in Israel by 2028.
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