Govt to evacuate Filipinos in Gaza

Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) placed Gaza under the highest alert level of 4 to pave the way for the mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on October 14, 2023. AFP PHOTO

There are 137 Filipinos in Gaza that have to be pulled out before Israeli forces launch an invasion.

On Friday, the Israeli military instructed about a million residents in northern Gaza to evacuate within 24 hours, an indication that an assault is imminent.

DFA spokesman Ma. Teresita Daza said in a statement on Sunday the Philippine government has “accounted for 131 of our nationals in Gaza, and at least 78 of them are now situated near the Rafah border crossing near Egypt.”

“All the rest have left northern Gaza or Gaza City, which is expected to be the main site for hostilities,” Daza said.

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DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the government is “calling on our nationals to leave” Gaza.

“If they stay, they do so at their own very grave risk,” de Vega said in a separate Viber message.

The first batch of eight Filipinos in Israel who requested repatriation is scheduled to arrive home today, October 16.

Gaza remains under a strict blockade. The DFA said it is collaborating with diplomatic partners in the region to facilitate the safe passage of Filipinos through the Rafah border crossing.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will pay for the repatriation expenses, including bringing home the remains of Filipinos killed in the fighting.

The government asked the public to rely only on official statements and advisories and to refrain from spreading unverified information.

It also advised Filipinos against traveling to Israel until the security situation there stabilizes.

Sen. Maria Josefa Imelda “Imee” Marcos on Sunday cautioned concerned officials against issuing statements for or against Israel and the Hamas militant group in Gaza.

In a radio interview, Marcos said she was worried that the Philippines could become a target of local supporters of Hamas.

“We’re afraid that their support [for Hamas] will be reignited. That’s why we should be careful with our pronouncements. We should first ensure the safety of our fellowmen in Israel,” Marcos said in Filipino.

“But we condemn all kinds of terrorism. Likewise, many say that the reported bombing of Gaza constitutes a human rights violation. So, the situation of the Filipinos there is quite scary,” she said.

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