India advises citizens to avoid Israeli border areas

The Indian embassy in Tel Aviv on Tuesday advised its nationals to avoid Israel’s border areas after an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon killed an Indian worker the previous day.

“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 “Important Advisory” reads.

“The Embassy remains in touch with the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of all our nationals,” it continues.

The New Delhi-based Hindustan Times and Press Trust of India news sites on Tuesday identified the foreign worker killed in the attack on Moshav Margaliot in the Eastern Galilee as Patnibin Maxwell, 31. Two other Indians were wounded when the missile hit an orchard where they were working at around 11 a.m. on Monday.

Maxwell was from Kollam in the southern Indian state of Kerala. He came to Israel around two months ago for work. He leaves behind a wife who is seven months pregnant, a five-year-old child and two brothers, one of whom works in Israel.

Another five foreign workers were wounded in the attack, two seriously. Hezbollah is believed to be responsible for the missile launch. The Iranian proxy has been carrying out daily cross-border rocket, missile and drone attacks in support of Hamas after the Oct. 7 massacre in southern Israel, during the ensuing war against the terrorist group in Gaza.

Tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated the northern border region in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack, but some stayed and work is still being conducted there.

The Indians wounded in the attack were identified as Bush Joseph George and Paul Melvin.

“George was taken to Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva after suffering injuries on the 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 told Press Trust of India.

The Israel Defense Forces responded to the attack by shelling the source of the launch in Southern Lebanon with artillery. The IDF said it also struck a Hezbollah compound where operatives were gathered in Chihine and another Hezbollah site in Ayta ash-Shab.

Melvin was hospitalized at Ziv Medical Center in Safed with light injuries.