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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA joins UN call for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war

DFA joins UN call for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war

Published Oct 25, 2023 10:05 am

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has joined the call of United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas as the number of civilian casualties continues to increase.

"We join the call of the UN Secretary General, hopefully, for a cessation of hostilities or for non-targeting as much as possible of civilians," DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega told reporters Wednesday, Oct. 25.

De Vega also hoped that humanitarian aid will "keep coming in" and those seeking repatriation to "be allowed out" amid hurdles in the Gazan border with Egypt.

But de Vega clarified that the DFA has not turned its back on the words of President Marcos, who earlier expressed his support for Israel's right of self-defense after Hamas launched a surprise assault on the Jewish state on Oct. 7, leading to the deaths of around 1,400 people from Israel.

"I would like also to clarify to Ambassador [Ilan] Fluss that the words we indicate are not to be interpreted to mean that we have turned back on the words of the President regarding our support for the Israelis and the Israeli right of self-defense," he said.

"After all, we do know that you, yourselves, don't want civilian casualties, so we joined the call of the international community," he added.

On Tuesday, the UN Secretary General called for a humanitarian ceasefire as he made a remark before the UN Security Council.

While he called Hamas' attacks as "appalling," Guterres said those did not justify the "collective punishment" that civilians experience in Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory of Gaza.

Meanwhile, the number of Filipinos seeking repatriation from Gaza and other neighboring territories and countries has risen.

Four Filipinos in the West Bank, another Palestinian territory, already signified their intention to leave although it is not directly affected by the Israel-Hamas war, de Vega said. Those in Gaza remain trapped as its border with Egypt remains closed.

Meanwhile, a total of 113 of the 17,000 Filipinos from Lebanon also sought repatriation in fear of possible escalation of tension between Israel and Hezbollah fighters.

Related Tags

Department of Foreign Affairs Israel-Hamas war CEASEFIRE
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