By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, March 5, 2024: The Indian government asked its people in Israel to move to safer places on March 5, a day after an anti-tank missile strike killed its first national in the ongoing war in the Middle Eastern country.
“In view of the prevailing security situation and local safety advisories, all Indian nationals in Israel, especially those working in or visiting border areas in the north and south, are advised to relocate to safe areas within Israel,” the Indian Embassy said in its advisory on social platform X.
The missile strike killed Pat Nibin Maxwell and wounded Paul Melvin and Bush Joseph George, all from the southern Indian state of Kerala working in an orchard in north Israel’s Margaliot near the Israel-Lebanon border.
Maxwell, 31, was near the orchard when the missile hit the border. His mortal remains were identified at the Ziv hospital.
Maxwell, who hailed from Kerala Kollam, had come to Israel only two months ago. He is survived by a five-year-old daughter and a pregnant wife.
The two wounded, from Kerala’s Idukki district, are now under treatment in the Israel hospital.
The Indian government issued the advisory after the death of its first national In the Israel-Hamas war.
The Indian embassy also shared a 24×7 helpline number (+972-35226748) and an email id (cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in).
“Alternatively, the hotline number of Population and Immigration Authority of Israel may be contacted: Tel – 1700707889. The Embassy also requests Indian nationals in Israel to share this advisory through their local networks for wider circulation,” the embassy added.
The Israeli embassy posted on X that it was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the incident, which it termed as “a cowardly terror attack launched by Shia Terror organisation Hezbollah, on peaceful agriculture workers.”
A Press Trust of India report said the attack was carried out by the Shia Hezbollah faction in Lebanon. Hezbollah has been launching attacks on Israel’s northern communities and military posts since October 8, 2023, saying it is doing so to support Gaza.
The Israel embassy in India has condemned the “cowardly terror attack launched by Shia terror organization Hezbollah on peaceful agriculture workers who were cultivating an orchard”. Naor Gilon, Israel’s ambassador to India, has spoken to Maxwell’s brother and assured him all help.
Maxwell’s father Pathrose told reporters that the deceased had followed his elder brother to Israel. “He was in Muscat and Dubai and returned home. Then, he went to Israel. First my older son went there. A week later, my younger son followed,” the father explained.
Maxwell’s body is expected to be brought to Kerala in four days after paperwork and formalities.
After the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, Israel suspended the work permits for Palestinians, opening up job opportunities for workers in countries like India. In recent weeks, thousands of young Indians queued up outside recruiting centers in the northern Indian states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for jobs in Israel.
An estimated 18,000 Indians are already in Israel, either studying or working as caregivers, diamond traders and IT professionals. As many as 1,309 Indians returned home after the October 7, 2023, attacks.