New Delhi: A day after Indian national Patnibin Maxwell from Kerala was killed and two others injured in a rocket attack by Hezbollah on Israel, the Indian embassy has asked all residents to relocate to safer areas.
An advisory released on 5 March stated, “In view of the prevailing security situation and local safety advisories, all Indians [sic] 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 Embassy remains in touch with the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of all our nationals.”
The two injured Indian nationals Bush Joseph George and Paul Melvin, also from Kerala, were injured in the anti-tank missile strike on an orchard in Margaliot. They are currently undergoing treatment.
According to reports, Zaki Heller, spokesperson for rescue services Magen David Adom (MDA), had earlier said that one foreign worker was killed and seven others were injured in the attack. This included people of other nationalities as well.
The Israeli embassy in India reacted to the strike on X, “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the death of one Indian national and the injury of two others due to a cowardly terror attack launched by Shia Terror organization Hezbollah, on peaceful agriculture workers who were cultivating an orchard at the northern village of Margaliot yesterday early afternoon.”
The embassy added that Israel’s “prayers and thoughts” went to the families of the bereaved and those of the injured. It said Israeli medical institutions were completely at the service of the injured who were being treated by Israel’s “very best” medical staff.
“Israel regards equally all nationals, Israeli or foreign, who are injured or killed due to terrorism. We will be there to support the families and offer them assistance,” the statement by the embassy said.
According to the data put out by the Ministry of External Affairs in December, around 18,000 to 20,000 Indians are in Israel. After the conflict began, a total of 1,309 Indian nationals were brought back in six special flights under Operation Ajay from Israel along with one from Gaza.
Iran-backed Hezbollah has been exchanging fire on an everyday basis with Israel across Lebanon’s southern border since 8 October.
Times of Israel had reported that Hezbollah would halt fire if Hamas agreed to a proposal for a truce and if Israeli forces stopped shelling Lebanon.
Israel continues its relentless bombing of Gaza which has so far killed at least 30,000, according to the Gazan health ministry. It has also launched action against Palestinians in the West Bank.
( Edited by Tikli Basu)
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