Israel begins returning Palestinian workers to Gaza, UN 'deeply concerned'
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00:00 Kerem Shalom means "Grove of Peace"
00:03 but it's in a situation of great tension and bombings
00:07 that thousands of Palestinians had to pass through that border crossing
00:11 back into the Gaza Strip.
00:14 These workers were in Israel when Hamas carried out its attacks on October 7th.
00:20 Many hid for a time.
00:22 Most were eventually arrested.
00:24 Upon their return to Gaza, some recounted their ordeal.
00:30 We were detained for more than 25 days.
00:35 They took our belongings, our money.
00:39 We don't even have our IDs or our work permits anymore.
00:44 We were humiliated and beaten every day.
00:49 They tortured us. We couldn't phone anyone or do anything.
00:53 We still don't know if our families are safe.
00:57 I don't know if my children are alive or dead.
01:01 More than 18,000 Gazans were holding work permits
01:09 allowing them to be in Israel before the war.
01:12 But Israel now considers they represent a threat to security.
01:17 For the UN, forcing people back into the territory is extremely worrying.
01:24 They're being sent back. We don't know exactly to where.
01:28 It probably isn't clear whether they've got even a home to go to.
01:31 And it's an incredibly difficult and dangerous situation
01:34 because there are hostilities going on.
01:36 Some 150,000 Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank
01:41 worked in Israel until October.
01:44 The Israeli government plans to increase the number of foreign workers
01:48 allowed into the country to replace Palestinian workers
01:51 workers and foreigners who have fled the region.
01:54 complacent in.