An Indian was killed and two others injured in northern Israel on Monday afternoon in cross-border firing by Hezbollah from Lebanon, prompting the embassy in Tel Aviv to issue a travel advisory.

The advisory urges all Indians in Israel, particularly those living or visiting the border areas in the north and south, to relocate to safe areas.

The three Indians are from Kerala and were employed as agricultural workers at an orchard in Margaliot, a moshav (cooperative agricultural community) in Upper Galilee along Israel’s border with Lebanon. There was no official word from India on the incident except for the advisory which makes no mention of the casualty.

The deceased has been identified as Nibin Maxwell from Kollam in Kerala. He
had moved to Israel in December, two months after the start of the ongoing round of fighting with Hamas. He is survived by his wife, who is expecting their second child, and a five-year-old daughter. His brother also works in Israel and is among several thousands of Indians who remain in the country even after the start of the latest chapter of hostilities in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The Israeli embassy in New Delhi expressed shock at the death of Maxwell and injury to two others in what it described as a “cowardly terror attack launched by Shia Terror organisation Hezbollah on peaceful agriculture workers”.

In a statement, it further said: “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.”