Three Turkish men trying to enter Israel illegally were killed by a drone strike near the Lebanon-Israel border, highlighting a little-known labor pipeline that has fueled a surge in undocumented Turkish workers seeking employment in Israel.
Regarding the Three Turkish Citizens Attempting to Cross Illegally from Lebanon to Israel https://t.co/C5L0Kez0EL pic.twitter.com/SY9rtMajtQ
— Turkish MFA (@MFATurkiye) January 29, 2025
Turkish citizens Hüseyin Kaya, Sezer Özdemir and Çınar Alp Baydenk were last heard from on January 9 before losing contact with their families, Turkish media reported. The men, who had previously worked in Israel and were attempting to return to collect unpaid wages, were reportedly targeted by an Israeli drone while moving toward the border. The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, calling it “unlawful” and demanding accountability.
The deaths come as more Turkish nationals seek employment in Israel by traveling on illegal routes, often crossing into the country from Jordan or Lebanon with the help of smugglers. Reports from Israeli media citing security sources in 2019 said illegal crossings into Israel had increased tenfold in just two years, with Turkish citizens making up a significant portion of those attempting to enter. In recent years Israeli border forces have intensified crackdowns, including the use of drones to monitor and intercept unauthorized crossings.
A growing number of Turkish workers have been drawn to Israel due to higher wages in construction and agriculture, sectors struggling with labor shortages. Many enter legally on tourist visas but overstay, while others attempt to return after being deported. The demand for undocumented labor has fueled an underground network of brokers facilitating illegal crossings, particularly through Jordan.
According to the US State Department’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report, foreign workers, including Turkish nationals, face significant risks of labor trafficking in Israel.
NGOs have reported that foreign contracting companies, particularly those owned by Turkish and Chinese firms, have coerced workers through debt bondage and restrictive contracts. Some Turkish workers have been compelled to sign promissory notes, leaving them vulnerable to financial coercion if they attempt to leave their jobs.
These exploitative conditions further push some workers toward illegal migration routes. The combination of demand for cheap labor, limited legal pathways and exploitative labor practices has contributed to a growing underground labor market, making Turkish workers particularly vulnerable to abuse.
Relatives of the three men, devastated by the news, had spent weeks hoping for signs of life. “We thought they were detained,” Sezer Özdemir’s brother, Taner Özdemir, told Turkish media. “Now we have nothing left to say.”
The Turkish government has vowed to repatriate the bodies as quickly as possible, while Israeli officials have not publicly commented on the incident.