Israel is to launch an urgent investigation in to a decision by China not to allow its citizens to work in Jerusalem and illegal Israeli settlements because they are occupied.

Chinese labourers have taken over construction jobs traditionally taken by Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza Strip. Israel has blockaded Gaza and bans Palestinians there from leaving and limited work permits issued to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

In March 2017, the occupation government approved a decision to bring 20,000 workers from China. Beijing had stipulated that its citizens would not work in settlements in the territories that have been occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem.

Read: Joint Palestine-Israel delegation to visit China