The four-day truce between Israel and Hamas is a “good sign” that this could lead to the release of two Filipinos possibly held hostage by the Palestinian militant group, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday, Nov. 22.
 

Families of Israeli captives gathered outside the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)

In an Unang Balita interview, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega spoke of the two Filipino hostages who could be freed soon after Israel agreed to a temporary ceasefire with Hamas.

“May confirmation ‘yan, ang question lang kung kailan mangyayari kasi it’s within 24 hours (That has a confirmation, the only question is when will it happen because it’s within 24 hours),” he said.

According to the official, the captives of Hamas to be released first are women and their children.

De Vega expressed hope the two Filipinos—a woman who has a dual citizenship and a man who was seen by his wife being taken as hostage in a video—will be among those to be freed anytime soon.

“Alam ng Israel na inaasahan natin na as soon as possible, makasama na yung mga Filipino citizens sa unang mare-release. Pero ang unang priority nila ang mga Israeli na bata at saka mga nanay nila (Israel knows that we expect as soon as possible, the Filipino citizens will be included among those to be released first. But their priority is Israeli children and their mothers),” he said.

“Malalaman natin before the end of the day today, Philippine time, kung tuloy pa tong deal. It will happen within the next few days na a few hostages per day. Tignan natin. Sana, asahan natin, na tuloy tuloy na po (We will know before the end of the day today, Philippine time, if this deal will push through. It will happen within the next few days na that a few hostages per day. Let’s see. Hopefully, let’s expect that this will continue),” he added.

On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day truce in Gaza, with the starting time to be announced in 24 hours.

As part of the Qatar-mediated deal, release of 50 captives held in the territory. Around 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails will also be freed as part of the deal.

Reports said Hamas will announce the names of those who will be released, so families would have to wait if their loved ones are included in the list.

This move came as intense pressure from the international community is put on both sides of the war to release captives nearly two months since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel and Israel’s subsequent retaliation.