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Israel Police have shut down seven businesses in northern Israel for employing or harboring more than 50 illegal immigrants, authorities confirmed on Thursday, marking a major escalation in enforcement efforts across the region.
The closures follow an earlier shutdown earlier this week, bringing the total number of businesses closed to eight as part of a coordinated, week-long crackdown led by the Northern District Command.
The operation was directed by Northern District Commander Meir Eliyahu and involved Northern District police units, Border Guard soldiers, the National Guard, and local immediate response teams operating simultaneously.
According to police statements, the enforcement drive resulted in the arrest of hundreds of illegal immigrants, alongside the detention of individuals suspected of employing, sheltering, or otherwise assisting them in violation of Israeli law.
Eliyahu signed 30-day administrative closure orders for seven businesses found to be in serious breach of employment and housing regulations related to undocumented workers.
Among the shuttered sites were three construction locations operated by the same company, where a total of 23 illegal immigrants were found actively working during police inspections.
In Nazareth, police closed a vegetable store after officers discovered two illegal immigrants employed on the premises, highlighting what authorities described as routine but widespread violations.
An aluminum workshop in Migdal Ha’emek was also ordered to close after five illegal immigrants were apprehended while working at the site, police said.
Additional closures included a shawarma restaurant employing two illegal immigrants, as well as a café in Kafr Kanna that authorities said had been converted into a makeshift boarding house.
Nineteen illegal immigrants were found sleeping and residing inside the Kafr Kanna café, prompting immediate closure and arrests due to what police described as both legal and safety violations.
Earlier in the week, police shut down another construction site in Bat Yam after discovering an illegal immigrant working and sleeping at the location.
During the Bat Yam inspection, officers also found a book written in Arabic featuring an image of Adolf Hitler, which was confiscated for further examination.
The illegal immigrant found at the Bat Yam site was arrested, while the employer was detained and questioned on suspicion of violating employment and security-related regulations.
Police officials stressed that the crackdown was not routine, but rather driven by heightened security concerns following a deadly terror attack on December 26, 2025.
The attack was carried out by an illegal immigrant who had been employed by an Israeli business and used his employer’s vehicle to carry out the assault.
The attacker succeeded in killing two people and injuring several others, according to security officials, before being apprehended by law enforcement.
The suspect, identified as Ahmed Abu al-Rov, is currently in custody, alongside his two brothers, who were also detained and transferred for questioning as part of the investigation.
Senior police officials said the incident exposed serious security risks posed by the illegal employment of undocumented workers, particularly when oversight is lax.
“The operation sends a clear message,” police said in a statement, warning that businesses employing or sheltering illegal immigrants will face immediate closures and legal consequences.
Authorities emphasized that enforcement efforts would continue nationwide, combining security considerations with labor law compliance to prevent further threats to public safety.
Police urged business owners to verify employee documentation and comply fully with the law, stressing that violations could have severe consequences beyond administrative penalties.