1 from Kerala dead, 2 injured in suspected Hezbollah missile attack on Israel

An Indian national from Kerala was killed and two injured when an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon struck an orchard near Israel’s northern border community of Margaliot on Monday (March 4), news agency PTI reported, quoting officials.

Patnibin Maxwell from Kerala’s Kollam was killed in the attack. His mortal remains were identified in Ziv hospital, PTI reported. Bush Joseph George and Paul Melvin were injured and taken to hospitals for treatment.

“George was taken to the Beilinson hospital in Petah 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 PTI.

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

Who was Patnibin Maxwell?

Thirty-one-year-old Maxwell, who hails from Kerala’s Kollam district, went to Israel two months ago to work as a contractual worker. He was employed at a farm when the attack occurred.

Reports say Maxwell was near the orchard when the missile hit the Israeli border.

Maxwell is survived by his wife, who is seven months pregnant, and his five-year-old daughter. One of his siblings, who is older to him, is also working in Israel.

According to reports, Maxwell’s family is in touch with the Indian embassy in Israel and his body is expected to be flown to India in the next four days. His elder brother is said to have reached the northern border of Israel to collect Maxwell’s body.

Message from Israel  

The Israel embassy in India posted on X that it was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the incident.

“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 Israel embassy wrote on X.

The attack

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 PTI.

The attack is 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.

MDA had said earlier that seven foreign workers were injured altogether in the attack, two of them seriously, and were taken to Beilinson, Rambam, and Ziv hospitals in their ambulances and Israeli Air Force helicopters.

Israel’s response

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Monday said they responded by shelling the launch site with artillery.

The IDF also said it struck a Hezbollah compound where members of the group were gathered in the southern Lebanon town of Chihine, and another site belonging to Hezbollah in Ayta ash-Shab.

Hezbollah has been attacking Israel’s northern communities and military posts since October 8, saying it is doing so to support Gaza. The skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah have resulted in the deaths of seven civilians and 10 IDF soldiers on the Israeli side.

Hezbollah has named 229 members who have been killed by Israel across Lebanon and Syria during the recent flare-ups. Another 37 operatives from other groups, a Lebanese soldier, and at least 30 civilians have also been killed since October 8.

(With agency inputs)