At least 22 Filipinos were rescued, including two injured, while one was reported to be taken hostage and seven others remained unaccounted for amid retaliatory attacks launched by Israel against Hamas militants.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported the figures on Monday, Oct. 9, based on the report provided by the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv as of 6 pm (Manila time) amid varying numbers earlier provided by various sources.
According to the agency, there were 29 reported cases of Filipinos affected by the war. Out of them, 22 were already rescued and were transferred to safer houses or housed in hotels.
From those rescued, DFA said, two suffered from injuries. One of them is now being treated in the hospital for moderate injuries sustained during the rescue, while the other is already recuperating after smoke inhalation.
The DFA also disclosed that a Filipina sought their assistance after seeing that her Filipino husband was seen in one of the videos circulating on social media of the captives taken to Gaza by Hamas.
"[The Philippine] post urgently relayed this to the Israel military authorities," DFA Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said in a statement.
"[The] post cannot independently verify his identity based on the video alone but considers the report of the wife as important. We are also working with community contacts on his case," she added.
The reported hostage is now among the seven Filipinos who remain unaccounted for and unreachable by the government, DFA said.
Meanwhile, the DFA said that 25 from the 137 Filipinos in Gaza Strip, where Hamas is the de facto government, already requested for repatriation after the Israeli government launched retaliatory attacks on the territory.
Initial updates from various sources, including Philippine Ambassador to the Philippines Junie Laylo, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega and DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes, said the government had not received any request for repatriation from Filipinos in Israel.
The officials also did not immediately report about any casualties or confirm that a Filipino was taken hostage despite social media posts pending confirmation from Israeli authorities.
But they said the Philippine government is already prepared to extend assistance to those in need.
"Meron tayong mga contingency plans na nakatalaga. At patuloy tayong nakikipag-ugnayan sa pamahalaan ng Israel at sa mga Filipino communities, sa pamamagitan ng mga leader nila, para masubaybayan ang mga pangyayari (We already have contigency plans. And we continue to coordinate with the Israeli government and the leaders of Filipino communities in Israel to monitor the situation)," Laylo said in an interview with Radyo Pilipinas.
There are about 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, according to the Philippine government, but most of them are located north of the country, or far from where fighting is tense.
Meanwhile, about 300 Agrostudies students who were deployed near Gaza were also already accounted for and safe, according to Laylo.
On Saturday morning, Hamas launched an attack on Israel as they entered into the country by land, sea and air.
Hamas called the operation "Al-Aqsa Storm," which was its response to Israel for its supposed attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the siege of Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu eventually said Israel is now "at war" with Hama as he ordered a retaliation against the militants.
The war has so far claimed the lives of over a thousand people from both sides and hostage taking by Hamas has also been reported.