The "illegal stayers", or Palestinians who illegally work or try to enter 48-occupied Palestine to find work, were regularly arrested or shot by the police while attempting to cross the apartheid wall. Israel declared necessity to hunt West Bank Palestinians who wish to provide for their families.

Economic and Humanitarian Situation (Post–October 7, 2023)

Since October 7, 2023, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank and Gaza have lost access to jobs inside Israel due to revoked work permits and security closures. Approximately 180,000 Palestinian workers were previously employed in construction, agriculture, and services in Israel, earning 2–3 times higher wages than those available in the West Bank.

The loss of income has led to:

a) Rising poverty and unemployment in Palestinian cities and villages.

b) Empty markets, unpaid loans, and families struggling to afford basic necessities.

c) Many unemployed workers have attempted to cross the separation wall illegally in search of work, resulting in deaths, injuries, and arrests.

d) Israeli authorities, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, have reportedly tightened restrictions and authorized force to prevent unauthorized entry.

The Palestinian Authority has been criticized for not providing alternative employment or emergency economic plans. Calls have been made for Arab and Islamic countries to create job opportunities or investment projects for displaced Palestinian workers.

Timeline of the events (2025)

On May 19, 2025:

Hard-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's son has formed a special force to pursue and assault Palestinian workers and hand them over to the Israeli police.

On Augustus 2025,

Apparently, the so-called "illegal stayers" abducted in Nazareth a few days ago, by the IsraNazi regime, are all from the Gaza Strip. They will now be sent back into the Holocaust they escaped.

On September 11 2025,

Ynet reports that two "illegal stayers" were shot by the police while attempting to cross the apartheid wall. They were moderately injured "Since the beginning of the war, the opening fire regulations in the separation fence area have changed and become stricter. The forces carry out a suspect arrest procedure that ends with shooting at anyone who tampers with the fence, certainly anyone who crosses it. In addition, they carry out chases and arrests, file indictments, impose fines and deny work permits. Since October 7, quite a few Palestinians who approached the fence have been shot, some of them farmers."

On September 14, 2025

The young man Sanad Khantuli from Silat al-Dhahr (Jenin Governorate) was murdered while crossing the illegal apartheid wall near Al-Ram, just outside Jerusalem.

On October 15, 2025

The Palestinian Suleiman Raji Hassan Al-Far from the town of Al-Zababdeh in Jenin has been martyred after being beaten to death by the soldiers near the separation wall near the town of Al-Ram, north of occupied Jerusalem.

Deaths of Palestinian Workers (2025):

1.Salim Raji Al-Far, 57, from Zababdeh (Jenin) — died October 15, 2025, after being struck on the head near the separation wall in Al-Ram, north of Jerusalem.

2.Muhammad Khaldoun Jumaa, from Deir Al-Ghusun (north of Tulkarem) — died October 6, 2025, after falling from the separation wall while attempting to enter Jerusalem.

3.Sand Hantouli, 25, from Silat Al-Dhahr (Jenin) — died September 15, 2025, after being shot in the thigh while attempting to enter Jerusalem through the Dahiyya area, north of the city.

4.Arafat Qadous, from Iraq Burin (southwest of Nablus) — died May 27, 2025, after falling from the separation wall in Al-Ram, north of Jerusalem.

5.Maher Sarsour, 59, from Sarta (west of Salfit) — died March 15, 2025, during a pursuit by Israeli forces near the Al-Ram wall during Ramadan.

6.Raafat Hamad, 35, from Silwad (east of Ramallah) — died March 12, 2025, after falling from a height during an Israeli military incursion into a construction workshop inside Jerusalem.

Timeline

On May 25, 2025, Israeli forces stormed the town of Al-Ram, north of occupied Jerusalem. According to the Jerusalem Governorate, the raid involved a wave of detentions and home invasions, along with the pursuit of Palestinian workers.