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Palestinians are more familiar to us Filipinos than many of us could be ready to accept.
Miss Universe Philippines 2019 title-holder Gazini Ganados, actors Agot Isidro and Dawn Zulueta, and professional basketball player Youssef Taha are just a few of many Filipinos with Palestinian blood.
Gazini was heartbroken in her Instagram post last Oct. 19, when she posted a photograph of her father as he lay in bed at a hospital in Gaza.
Gazini (@gazinii on Instragram) wrote in the caption: “I cannot remain silent in the face of the Israeli government’s attempt to seek revenge from innocent civilians for the terrorist attack. I will not remain silent about this genocide either specially that my family’s life depends on it.”
“How can so many be so silent? What are you scared of? Scared to defend basic human rights as innocent people are murdered,” Gazini asked.
Taha (@youseftaha055) has also posted four times about Gaza and Palestine, calling on basketball fans and the public to raise their awareness, and to donate to humanitarian organizations focused on delivering aid to civilians in Gaza.
The Department of Foreign Affairs says there are 134 Filipinos remaining in Gaza – mostly permanent residents, married to Palestinian spouses, or both.
At least 40 of the Filipinos successfully left Gaza early this week, but sadly had to leave their Palestinian spouses in the area of conflict.
Labor leader Sonny Matula, president of the Federation of Free Workers, has called on the Philippine government to issue visas to the Palestinian spouses of Filipinos set to return to the country. It is a sound, humanitarian call. Our government should bring entire Filipino families, including Palestinian spouses, to the Philippines.
An ABS-CBN news report quoting Ambassador Wilfredo Santos said that a Filipino nun, aged 63, belonging to the Missionaries of Charity, has chosen to stay in Gaza, refusing offers to be repatriated.
“She said she’s reluctant to leave, she wants to stay in the church to continue to attend to the 800 people who have taken refuge in the church. She just asked us to pray for her safety and the safety of the 800 people,” Santos was quoted as saying.
Back home, Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel delivered a privilege speech on Nov. 8 at the House of Representatives, denouncing the bombings on Gaza where the death toll has breached the 10,000 mark.
Several demonstrations demanding a ceasefire and expressing support to the Palestinian right to self-determination have been held in Manila and in Mindanao, with the latest being held on Oct. 31 right outside the Israeli Embassy in Taguig City.
In Mindanao, thousands of Muslim Filipinos rallied on Oct. 17 in Cotabato City, with demonstrators waving Palestinian flags as they denounced Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
A week earlier, thousands also demonstrated in solidarity with Palestinians, at the war-torn city of Marawi.
Maulana Mamutuk, president of Ranao Charitable Society and a co-organizer of the protest, told Riyadh-based Arab News: “We are living testimony how hard, how difficult it is to be displaced. We are evacuees, so we know and we feel how hard leaving your home is ... how hard it is to be distraught, threatened by bullets and bombs.”
Meanwhile, an update about journalists in Palestine: The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists reports that, as of Nov. 9, a total of 39 journalists and media workers have been killed since Oct. 7.
CPJ also reports that eight journalists have been injured, three missing, and 13 arrested.
Like other civilians and non-combatants, journalists should be protected and not targeted while performing their reporting duties. Same goes for doctors, nurses, and relief and rescue workers.