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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Israel not yet opening humanitarian corridor; other options available — embassy official

Israel not yet opening humanitarian corridor; other options available — embassy official

Published Oct 12, 2023 08:08 am

Israel is not yet considering opening any humanitarian corridor for foreign nationals wanting to leave Gaza amid challenges from Philippine officials to get Filipinos out of the Palestinian territory.

Esty Buzgan, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Israeli Embassy in Manila, said Thursday the Israeli government is "not talking about" that yet as it is still "too early" to decide on while its war with Hamas militants rages.

"But there are other options to leave Gaza Strip via Egypt. That's currently another possibility," Buzgan said in a press conference.

"It needs to be coordinated with them, of course," she added.

Currently, the border of Gaza with Israel is sealed off, while its border with Egypt in Rafah was bombed by Israeli forces. That is preventing the Philippine government from repatriating the 70 Filipinos in Gaza who already wanted to leave the territory.

Plans to remove blockades are still not on the table, according to Buzgan, because if Israel does so, there will be "more terrorists" to come to the country.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the government might need to take a diplomatic approach to do so.

Buzgan said the Israeli government still has no idea about the whereabouts of those taken hostage by Hamas to Gaza.

She was also not able to confirm a report that a Filipino was abducted after his wife supposedly saw him in one of videos circulating on social media.

Related Tags

Israel overseas Filipino workers Repatriation Gaza
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