Chinese Nationals Caught Attempting to Illegally Enter Israel Via Jordan
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israeli authorities arrested a Chinese national suspected of smuggling two other Chinese citizens into Israel from Jordan. This incident is part of a larger trend, with 267 individuals detected entering via Jordan between 2019 and 2025. Smugglers reportedly charge between $2,500 and $10,000 per person. Chinese workers in Israel's construction sector earn significantly more than in China, with around 24,000 Chinese construction workers in Israel by the end of 2025.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A Chinese national was arrested in Israel for allegedly helping two others illegally enter from Jordan.
- Israeli authorities detected 267 individuals entering via Jordan between 2019 and 2025.
- Smugglers reportedly charge between $2,500 and $10,000 per person for illegal entry via Jordan.
- Chinese construction workers in Israel earn significantly more than their counterparts in China.
- Around 24,000 Chinese construction workers were in Israel by the end of 2025.
- 33 Chinese nationals were recently denied entry at the Allenby crossing with forged Japanese passports.
Israeli authorities have apprehended a Chinese national suspected of facilitating the illegal entry of two other Chinese citizens into Israel from Jordan. The suspect, who has been living in Israel for approximately two years, was arrested on Route 90 while waiting for the two individuals attempting to cross from Jordan. They were apprehended by Jordanian forces on the Jordanian side of the border. The suspect's work permit has been revoked, and he is facing deportation proceedings.
This incident highlights a trend of illegal immigration into Israel via the Jordanian border. According to data from the Population and Immigration Authority, 267 individuals were detected in Israel between 2019 and 2025 who claimed to have entered via Jordan, primarily originating from Turkey and Ethiopia.
Such smuggling operations can be lucrative, with police estimates from July 2024 suggesting that individuals pay between $2,500 and $10,000 per person for illegal passage through Jordan. The significant wage disparity between China and Israel is seen as a major draw for foreign workers.
A study by the Population Authority indicated that Chinese workers in Israel's construction sector earn an average monthly salary of NIS 14,713, which is about one-third of the equivalent salary in China (NIS 4,904). This data pertains to regulated employment in construction and not the overall average wage across all sectors.
Chinese presence in the Israeli labor market is substantial, with approximately 24,000 Chinese construction workers in Israel at the end of 2025, employed through regulated channels and projects approved by the Ministry of Construction and Housing. In a separate incident on Tuesday, October 6, authorities denied entry to 33 Chinese nationals at the Allenby crossing who were attempting to enter with forged Japanese passports. Investigations revealed they had entered and exited Jordan using their Chinese passports, with the forged documents sent for further examination.
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