Lifestyle

Indian National Killed in Israel: Father Claims Pat Nibin Maxwell Wasn’t Allowed to Seek Safer Location

An anti-tank missile strike on an orchard in Margaliot, Israel, on Monday resulted in the death of Indian national Pat Nibin Maxwell and the injuries of two more. Each of the three victims was from Kerala. Hezbollah, which has been firing rockets at northern Israel to support Hamas in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, is said to have shot the missile. Pathrose Maxwell, the father of the murdered victim, claims that the Israeli authorities prevented his son from moving to a safer area. Pathrose Maxwell stated in an interview that two weeks ago, his son saw a cross-border attack. But he couldn’t since he didn’t have his sponsor’s approval. On Monday, at about 430 p.m., my older son Nivin, who is also in Israel, called to inform me that his younger brother Nibin had been hurt in the attack and was taken to the hospital. He informed me later, at 12:45 a.m., that Nibin had passed away,” he said.

The father of the victim also pleaded with Israel and Hamas to prioritize the security of foreign nationals and relocate them to safer areas. Notably, Pat Nibin Maxwell was employed on a farm at the time of the incident and had relocated to Israel two months prior under a labor contract. His wife, who is seven months pregnant and expecting another child, and their five-year-old daughter survive him. Bush, Joseph George, and Paul Melvin have been recognized as the two additional injured victims in the meantime. The Israeli embassy posted on X (previously known as Twitter) after the incident, expressing dismay. The embassy expressed its shock and sadness over the death of an Indian national and the injuries of two others as a result of the cowardly terror attack on peaceful agricultural workers who were tending an orchard in the northern village of Margaliot yesterday afternoon, carried out by the Shia terror organization Hezbollah.

India issues an advisory

A day after the incident claimed the life of the Indian national, New Delhi on Tuesday issued a warning to Indians residing in Israel. “Due to the present security scenario and regional safety advisories, all Indian nationals living in Israel are urged to migrate to secure locations. This is especially important for individuals who work in or visit border areas in the north and south. The Indian Embassy in Israel stated, “The Embassy stays in contact with the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of all our nationals.” Also provided by the Indian consulate is a 24-hour hotline, +972-35226748. Additionally, citizens may email the embassy at cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in. As an alternative, you can reach the Population and Immigration Authority of Israel’s hotline at Tel. 1700707889. For increased distribution, the Embassy further asks Indian people residing in Israel to forward this warning to their local networks.