Hundreds of Chinese laborers are holding 12 Israeli staff members hostage on a resort construction site in Turks and Caicos.

The workers refuse to let the Israelis, from the Ashtroom real estate company, leave the project site in West Caicos until the Chinese manpower agency that hired them pays their back wages and returns the $15,000 each person invested to be able to work on the island.

The laborers also have closed the island's only port so no one can enter or leave. West Caicos is located some 575 miles south of Miami, Florida and is accessible only by boat or small aircraft.

Officials from Israel's foreign ministry are talking with British officials in Santa Domingo in the Dominican Republic on how to resolve the issue and free the Israelis. One hostage told Israelnationalnews.com that they are unharmed and are being treated well. The Israelis were also allowed to use their cellular phones to call their families.

Ashtroom had promised to pay the Chinese workers even if their manpower agency owe them most of the back wages. However, company officials said the payment process will take time.