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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 70 Pinoys now seeking repatriation from Gaza—DFA

70 Pinoys now seeking repatriation from Gaza—DFA

Published Oct 11, 2023 08:22 am

The Philippine government stands ready to assist and repatriate some 70 Filipinos from strife-torn Gaza who have expressed willingness to be repatriated amid the ongoing violence there between Hamas and the Israeli forces.

Israel_Hamas.jpg(Screenshot from Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Facebook)

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Eduardo de Vega said in a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Oct. 11, that the number of Filipinos increased from 38 to 70 as of Wednesday, Oct. 11.

Still, no Filipino staying in Israel had asked to be repatriated.

“However, we have from Gaza and the number keeps increasing. I believe yesterday, I said there were about 38. According to Ambassador Wilfredo Santos, they are now 70,” the official said.

While the Philippines hasn’t made arrangements yet how to repatriate the Filipinos from Gaza because all borders are closed, De Vega said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is ready to fly them home.

But if the Filipinos would be allowed to cross the Egyptian border, a commercial flight would be waiting for them, he added.

“So, it’s now a diplomatic approach, we are using diplomacy along with other countries in order to have the borders open so that we can help iyong mga kababayan natin (our countrymen). So we can help countrymen and women, go through the border and kung kailangan ng evacuation, well nandiyan (if evacuation is needed, well there is),” De Vega explained.

“If they pass through the Egypt border,  if they are able to pass the Egypt border or embassy in Cairo, we will bring them home on a commercial flight,” the official stated.

De Vega is expecting more Filipinos to express interest to come home in the coming days.

Those who want to be repatriated are Filipinas married to Palestinians who are in Gaza.

The voluntary repatriation came in response to the violence that erupted there since late last week when the Palestinian militant group Hamas struck Israel with a barrage of air, sea, and ground rockets.

Local and foreign nationals have been taken hostage as the group ambushed residential areas.

Israel announced it is at war against the Hamas group, and countries have started evacuating their nationals from the country as the two neighbors exchange rockets.

There are about 30,500 Filipinos in Israel, mostly in Tel Aviv, while there are 137 Filipinos, including minors, in Palestine.

Related Tags

Israel Department of Foreign Affairs Repatriation Gaza Strip Hamas attack Eduardo De Vega
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