Mortal remains of Kerala woman killed in Israel reaches Kochi

The mortal remains of Soumya Santhosh, who was killed in a rocket attack in the Israeli city of Ashkelon has reached Kochi. The remains were received by her relatives at Nedumbassery airport.

Ernakulam: The mortal remains of Soumya Santosh, a native of Kerala's Idukki, who was killed in a rocket attack in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, reached Kochi on Saturday evening.

The remains were brought to Kochi from New Delhi on an Air India flight and Soumya's relatives received her mortal remains at Nedumbassery airport.

Read:|Mortal remains of Kerala woman killed in Israel arrive in India

Earlier in the day, Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, along with Israeli Deputy envoy Rony Yedidia Clein, paid their last respect to the deceased.

"With a heavy heart, received the mortal remains of Ms Soumya Santhosh in Delhi and paid my last respects. CDA of Israel Embassy Rony Yedidia also joined. I empathize with the pain and sufferings of the family of Ms Soumya. More strength to them," Muraleedharan tweeted.

The 30-year-old Indian woman was among those killed in a rocket attack by a Palestinian Islamist group on Tuesday. She was working as a caretaker to an elderly woman at a house in the Ashkelon, which borders the Gaza strip.

According to her family, she was living in Israel for the last seven years. Her husband and nine-year-old son stay in Kerala.

Her family stated that Soumya was on a video call with her husband when the tragic incident took place.

Read:|Israeli envoy speaks to kin of Kerala woman who died in rocket attack in Israel

The ongoing violence between Israel and Palestine marks a dramatic escalation of tensions linked to the potential eviction of Palestinian families from East Jerusalem by Israeli settlers and access to one of the most sacred sites in the city, which is a key hub for Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

With ramping up of rocket attacks and airstrikes from both sides, concerns have emerged that the conflict is likely to evolve into a full-blown war.

Gaza's Health Ministry says at least 139 Palestinians, including 39 children and 22 women, have been killed and more than 900 wounded in the enclave since the latest round of violence began.

At least eight people in Israel have been killed in the rocket attacks launched by armed groups in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the Gaza offensive "as needed to restore calm in the state of Israel".

(with agency inputs)

Read:|Kerala woman killed as Gaza launches rocket attacks on Israel