Indian Christians killed and two injured in Israel sparked government alert for citizens

One Indian Christian was killed and two were injured in an anti-tank missile strike on March 5, 2024, in the ongoing war in the Middle Eastern country, and the Indian government asked its people in Israel to move to safer places.

“Because 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.

A missile strike killed Pat Nibin Maxwell and wounded Paul Melvin and Bush Joseph George; all were from the southern Indian state of Kerala and worked in an orchard near the Israeli-Lebanese border in north Israel's Margaliot.

A missile struck Maxwell's (31) orchard near the border, and Ziv Hospital identified his mortal remains.

Kerala-born Maxwell came to Israel only two months ago and leaves behind a five-year-old daughter and a seven-month-pregnant wife.

A hospital in Israel is providing treatment for two injured people, both from Kerala's Idukki district in India.

Following the death of its first national in the Israel-Hamas war, the Indian government issued an advisory.

The Indian embassy also shared a 24×7 helpline number (+972-35226748) and an email ID (cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in).

"Alternatively, the Population and Immigration Authority of Israel hotline number can be contacted at Tel. 1700707889, and the Embassy also requests that Indian nationals in Israel 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 "a cowardly terror attack launched by Shia terror organization Hezbollah on peaceful agriculture workers.”

Hezbollah carried out the attack, targeting Israeli communities and military posts in the north since October 8, 2023, as reported by The Press Trust of India.

According to Israel's embassy in India, Hezbollah launched a cowardly terror attack on peaceful agricultural workers who were maintaining their orchards.

Naor Gilon, Israel’s ambassador to India, has spoken to Maxwell’s brother and assured him of all his help.

Maxwell's father, Pathrose, told reporters that Maxwell had traveled with his brother to Israel and had spent time in Muscat and Dubai. He then returned home and traveled to Israel.

They expect to bring Maxwell's body to Kerala in four days after completing paperwork and formalities.

In response to Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, Israel suspended Palestinian work permits, opening up job opportunities for Indians. In recent weeks, thousands of young Indians have been queuing up for jobs in Israel outside recruitment centers in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the northern Indian states.

An estimated 18,000 Indians are already in Israel, studying or working as caregivers, diamond traders, and IT professionals. Following the October 7, 2023, attacks, as many as 1,309 Indians returned home.