India asks its citizens to move to safer places in Israel

New Delhi: After a missile fired from Lebanon killed one and injured two other Indians in northern Israel, New Delhi’s diplomatic mission in Tel Aviv on Tuesday urged the country’s citizens in the West Asian Jewish nation to move to safer areas.

 “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 of India in Tel Aviv said in an advisory posted on its website as well as on the social media platforms.

The embassy is in touch with the Government of Israel to ensure the safety of all Indians in the West Asian nation.

Patnibin Maxwell, a 30-year-old youth from Kollam in Kerala, was killed when an anti-tank missile hit a plantation at Margaliot in Galilee in the north of Israel on Monday. Two others, Bush Joseph George, 31, and Paul Melvin, 28, both from Kerala, were injured.

“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 the Shia Terror organization Hezbollah, on peaceful agriculture workers who were cultivating an orchard at the northern village of Margaliot yesterday early afternoon,” the Embassy of Israel in New Delhi stated. “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.”

India condemned the October 7 terrorist attacks in southern Israel. The Hamas terrorists carried out the attack, killing 1400 Israelis, and taking over 220 hostages.

Israel retaliated with aerial attacks and ground offensives in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 30000 Palestinians and injuring nearly 70000 more, demolishing residential buildings, hospitals, and universities, and displacing hundreds of thousands of people.

India expressed concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza and reminded Israel that it had an obligation to go by international humanitarian law while responding to the attacks by Hamas.

Hezbollah has been launching attacks on Israel's northern communities and military posts since October 8 in response to the Jewish nation’s offensives in Gaza.