Indian Dies, 2 Others Injured As Hezbollah Strikes Orchard In Israel

In the first Indian casualty in the Israel-Hamas war, a man from Kerala died in a missile strike in north Israel's Margaliot yesterday. The Israel embassy in India said in a statement this morning that two others were injured in the "cowardly" attack by Hezbollah.

We are deeply shocked and saddened by the death of one Indian national and the injury of two others due to a cowardly terror attack launched by Shia Terror organization Hezbollah, on peaceful agriculture workers who were cultivating an orchard at the northern village of Margaliot…

The three were cultivating an orchard at the time of the missile strike, the statement said. The Israel embassy has said its prayers go out to the families of the dead and 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," it said.

"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 statement added.

The anti-tank missile was fired from Lebanon, news agency PTI has reported. The Shia faction of Hezbollah has been carrying out rocket strikes and drone attacks in north Israel in support of Hamas since the war began.

The Israel-Hamas war has raged on for nearly five months after the October 7 attacks on Israeli cities. Tel Aviv's brutal counterstrike has led to thousands of deaths in the Gaza Strip.

New Delhi has said it is deeply troubled by the conflict and the humanitarian crisis it has led to.

At a briefing at the UN General Assembly, Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, said "the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially women and children". "This is simply unacceptable. We have strongly condemned the deaths of civilians in the conflict. India has a longstanding and uncompromising position against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," she said.

"India is committed to supporting a two-state solution where the Palestinian people are able to live freely in an independent country within secure borders with due regard to the security needs of Israel," she added.