Indian man killed in 'Hezbollah' missile attack, Israel 'deeply shocked'

An Indian national was killed, while two others were injured after an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon struck an orchard near Israel's northern border community of Margaliot. The incident happened on Monday.

The three Indians hailed from Kerala.

The victim was identified as 31-year-old Pat Nibin Maxwell from Kollam in Kerala. Maxwell reportedly arrived in Israel two months back and was working on a farm, at the time of the attack.

He is survived by a five-year-old daughter and his wife, who is expecting another child.

The two injured Indians were identified as Bush Joseph George and Paul Melvin.

The missile hit a plantation in Margaliot, a moshav (collective agricultural community), in the Galilee region in the north of Israel around 11 am on Monday, Zaki Heller, spokesperson for rescue services Magen David Adom (MDA), told news agency PTI.

"George was taken to the Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva after suffering injuries on face and body. He underwent an operation, is recovering well, and has been kept under observation. He could speak with his family in India," an official source said.

Melvin was slightly injured and is hospitalised at Ziv Hospital in the northern Israeli city of Safed. He is from the Idukki district of Kerala.

The attack was believed to have been carried out by the Shi'ite Hezbollah faction in Lebanon, which has been launching rockets, missiles, and drones at northern Israel daily since October 8 in support of Hamas amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

Commenting on the incident, Pathrose Maxwell, the victim's father, said he received a call from his daughter-in-law at nearly 4.30 pm, informing him that his son had met with an accident. Later, at nearly 12.30 am, he was informed about the death of his son.

"I have three children, while two are in Israel, one is working in Abu Dhabi," the victim's father said.

"Pat Nibin has one daughter. She is five years old. His wife is seven months pregnant," he added.

ISRAELI EMBASSY RESPONDS

Meanwhile, the Israeli Embassy in India expressed grief over the death of the Indian national and said the Israeli medical institutions were at the service of those injured in the attack.

In an X post, the Embassy said, "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."

"Our prayers and thoughts naturally go to the families of the bereaved and those of the injured. Israeli Medical institutions are completely at the service of the injured who are being treated by our very best medical staff. Israel regards equally all nationals, Israeli or foreign, who are injured or killed due to terrorism," it said.

"We will be there to support the families and offer them assistance. Our countries, who are sadly well versed in civilian loss, stand united in hopes of a speedy recovery for the injured and solace for the family of the bereaved," the Embassy tweeted.