Kerala man killed in missile attack in Israel

New Delhi: An Indian national was killed and two others were injured on Monday when an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon by Hezbollah militants struck an orchard near Israel's northern border community of Margaliot, officials said. Reacting, India on Tuesday issued an advisory to its citizens in Israel, “especially those working in or visiting border areas in the north and south, to relocate to safe areas within Israel”.

According to media reports from Jerusalem, the deceased has been identified as Pat Nibin Maxwell, a resident of Kerala's Kollam district who was near the orchard when the anti-tank missile hit the Israel border. His mortal remains were identified at the Ziv hospital.

Two other Indian nationals, also from Kerala -- identified as Bush Joseph George and Paul Melvin -- were reportedly injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.

According to reports, 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.

Blaming the Hezbollah militia, Israel meanwhile said it was "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 the Hezbollah militia on “peaceful agriculture workers who were cultivating an orchard at the northern village of Margaliot yesterday early afternoon".

The Indian embassy in Tel Aviv said: “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 embassy remains in touch with the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of all our nationals.”

In a statement, the Israeli embassy in New Delhi said, “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. 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 Israeli statement said.