The Philippine government has condemned the ongoing armed conflict in Israel and is now working to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos affected by the attacks.

The Office of the President (OP) said this after the Israeli government declared a state of war following the surprise land and air attacks from the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

"The Philippines condemns the attacks, especially against civilian populations," the OP said on Sunday, Oct. 8.

"The Philippines understands the right of states to self-defense in the light of external aggression as recognized in the United Nations Charter," it added.

In a Facebook post, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said Israel will respond in "the most harsh way" to protect itself, following reports that at least 250 Israelis have been killed, 1,600 injured, and over 100 kidnapped and held hostage In Gaza.

"The Hamas, a terror organization supported by Iran, wants to destroy Israel and murder as many Israelis as possible. They actually declared war against Israel," he wrote.

"Israel will respond in the most harsh way in order to protect itself, release the kidnapped civilians and soldiers, and destroy terror infrastructure," he added.

Ensure Filipinos' safety

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), President Marcos has ordered the government to ensure the Filipinos in the Holy Land are safe.

"The government is closely coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Israel to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos affected in the ongoing conflict," it said.

The PCO said Marcos tasked the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to locate and account for all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families in Israel.

The DMW has opened a hotline and several Viber and WhatsApp hotline numbers that will accept calls and queries from OFWs and the Filipino community who need government assistance.

Meanwhile, the OP said the Philippines deeply sympathizes with those who lost their family members and loved ones in the recent attacks.

The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv closed on Saturday and will remain so until further notice due to the attacks. However, the Embassy said that Filipinos in Israel can call its emergency number, +972-54-4661188.

The Embassy likewise urged Filipinos to remain vigilant and obey the guidelines set by the Israel Homefront Command.

Appreciation

In his Facebook post, Fluss said Israel appreciates the strong support it was getting from its friends and allies, including the Philippines.

"I also want to thank my friends and colleagues in the Philippines who expressed their sympathy and support. I appreciate the messages of Israel’s good friends in the Philippines, including Senator Villanueva and JIL," he wrote.

"Let’s hope and pray together for a speedy recovery for the injured, send our condolences to the families of the murdered Israelis, and pray for peace," he added.