Kochin: In a tragic incident, a man from Kerala, India, was shot dead by security forces while trying to cross the border illegally from Jordan to Israel. The Indian embassy in Jordan is in touch with his family.
According to media reports, a group of people tried to cross the Jordan-Israel border with the help of an agent on February 10. Among them was 47-year-old Thomas Gabriel from Thumba, Kerala.
Gabriel and another man, Edison, were part of a four-member group, including a British national. Both were auto-rickshaw drivers from a fishing community. They had travelled to Jordan on a three-month tourist visa. Later, they attempted to get visas to go to Isreal.
When Edison returned to India, he spoke to India Today that, “UK national went home, promising to bring more people to press forward with their journey to Isreal.”
The three men attempted to cross the border with the help of a guide but were caught by Jordanian border forces. According to Edison, the soldiers, unable to understand their language, opened fire. He said they begged the security personnel to let them call home, but their request was denied.
When the Jordanian army stopped them at the border, they tried to escape, prompting the soldiers to open fire. Gabriel was shot in the head and died, while Edison was injured in the leg. He was taken to a Jordanian army hospital for treatment and later to jail.
“I came home as I was able to call my family from the jail there. I didn’t have money… I got to know about his death after getting confirmation from the Embassy,” Edison told the media.
The Indian Embassy in Amman later informed Gabriel’s family about the incident. The Indian Embassy in Jordan, in a post on X, said it was working with Jordanian authorities to bring his body back home. “The embassy has learnt of the sad demise of an Indian national in unfortunate circumstances. The embassy is in touch with the family of the deceased and is working closely with Jordanian authorities for transportation of mortal remains of the deceased,” it said.
Gabriel’s family only learned about his trip to Jordan after Edison returned. They later received official confirmation of his death from the Indian Embassy.
According to ANI reports, Ani Thomas Gabriel’s relative, Metilda, said, “We got an email from the Indian Embassy in Jordan about his death, but we haven’t heard anything since.”
Later, Gabriel’s wife, Christeena, told PTI, “he called me when he reached Jordan to tell me that he reached safely. Later, on February 9, he called me and said to pray for him. That’s when I spoke last to him. He never spoke to me. I got to know that he is not there with Edison when Edison called his home. I didn’t know anything else. He didn’t call me, and my calls didn’t reach him.”
