A nurse named Sheeja Anand, originally from Kerala, was injured during an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas while she was on a video call with her husband in India. She initially assured her family in India that she was safe, but during a subsequent call to her husband, the conversation was abruptly cut short due to loud noises in the background. Anand underwent surgery and will be moved to another hospital for further treatment.
Anand’s husband and children are in India, and they received this distressing news while he was working in Pune. Additionally, around 200 people from Kerala were stranded in a hotel in Bethlehem during the conflict, but they are reported to be safe. Another group of 45 individuals from Kochi was also stranded in Palestine but received permission to cross the border.
Both the Indian Ambassador to Israel and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have been informed of the situation. The conflict in Israel involved a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas, resulting in casualties on both sides. Israel launched a counteroffensive, targeting Hamas’ hideouts in the Gaza Strip.
Approximately 18,000 Indian nationals reside and work in Israel, with no major incidents reported involving them. The Indian authorities in Tel Aviv and the Representative Office of India in Palestine issued advisories urging Indian nationals to remain vigilant and contact the respective offices in case of emergencies.
The three-day conflict has resulted in a tragic toll, claiming the lives of over 1,100 individuals on both sides, including more than 700 casualties in Israel, which includes 44 soldiers.
Israel initiated a counteroffensive on Saturday with the aim of targeting and eliminating Hamas’ hideouts within the Gaza Strip. The country persisted in conducting military operations in the region on Sunday, and there were reports of clashes between Hamas infiltrators and the Israeli military in southern Israel.