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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Imee Marcos cautions DFA in taking diplomatic positions amid Israel-Hamas conflict

Imee Marcos cautions DFA in taking diplomatic positions amid Israel-Hamas conflict

Published Nov 27, 2023 06:02 am

Senator Imee Marcos on Monday, November 27, urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to come up with a long-term strategy to negotiate the release of the Filipino seafarers who were abducted.

Marcos noted that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is expanding beyond the Gaza strip, and Filipino seafarers were again among the hostages in Sunday’s hijacking incident in the Middle East, just a week after Yemen’ Houthi rebels seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said she sees no end in sight yet to this conflict that is why the lives of Filipino seafarers now face higher risks as Israel's attacks in Gaza could draw in more militant groups seeking to avenge the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.

"There's no end in sight to this conflict and more Filipino seafarers could become collateral damage. The ongoing truce to release hostages on both sides is temporary," Marcos warned.

The government should also take note of the pro-Palestinian Houthi rebels threat to target more ships with links to Israel, she said.

At the same time, Marcos cautioned the DFA in its diplomatic positions, especially as a member of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

She said the Philippines' abstention from a UNGA resolution calling for a humanitarian pause in Israel's attacks in Gaza "has not gone unnoticed" among Arab nations and could affect future negotiations on the release of Filipino hostages.

“Our alliance with the United States and its foreign policies in the ongoing conflict complicate our own. But Filipino interests come first and must be upheld,” she stressed.

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Sen. Imee Marcos Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Israel-Hamas conflict
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