Kollam: The 31-year-old individual from India who lost his life in a missile strike close to the border between Israel and Lebanon had departed from his residence in Kollam, Kerala, merely two months prior. His departure was marked by farewells from his five-year-old daughter and pregnant wife, unaware that it would be their final goodbye.
Identified as Pat Nibin Maxwell, he tragically succumbed to a missile strike near an orchard in Margaliot, northern Israel, on the previous day. The attack also left two other individuals from Kerala injured: Paul Melvin and Bush Joseph George, both hailing from Idukki, who are currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Israel.
Expressing condemnation, the Israel embassy in India denounced the “cowardly terror attack” by the Hezbollah organization, describing the victims as peaceful agricultural workers. Naor Gilon, Israel’s ambassador to India, has reached out to Maxwell’s brother, offering assistance.
According to Pathrose Maxwell, the father of the deceased, Nibin had followed his elder brother’s path to Israel after stints in Muscat and Dubai. The news of his demise was relayed to the family by his wife, initially informing them of his injuries and later his passing.
The grieving father mentioned Nibin’s surviving family—a daughter of four-and-a-half years and a wife seven months pregnant with their second child.
Plans are underway to repatriate Nibin’s remains to Kerala within four days, following necessary procedures.
With the first Indian casualty in the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Indian government has issued advisories for its citizens residing in Israel, urging relocation to safer areas within the country in light of the ongoing security concerns. The Indian embassy in Israel maintains communication with Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of Indian nationals.
The Shia faction of Hezbollah has been engaged in rocket strikes and drone attacks in northern Israel, aligned with Hamas, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Israel-Hamas conflict has persisted for nearly five months following attacks on Israeli cities on October 7. Tel Aviv’s retaliatory actions have resulted in numerous casualties in the Gaza Strip. India has expressed deep concern over the conflict and its humanitarian repercussions.
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