Kin of Pinay caregiver who was among those killed in Hamas attack returns to Israel
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
The sister of the Filipina caregiver slain by Hamas militant group was assisted by the Israel Embassy in the Philippines as she decided to fly back to Israel to work as a caregiver.
(From left) Israeli Ambassador to Manila Ilan Fluss and Angenica (Photo from Amb. Fluss/Facebook)
This was shared by Israeli Ambassador to Manila Ilan Fluss on his Facebook page on Monday, Jan. 8.
“Israel is committed to support the families affected by the October 7 massacre,” the envoy wrote.
He shared that on Monday morning, the embassy assisted the sister of Angelyn Aguirre, the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who died alongside her Israeli ward when her village was ambushed by Palestinian militant group Hamas in Oct. 2023, because she was “determined to return to Israel” and resume her role as a caregiver.
“I bestowed upon her the traditional Hebrew blessing, "nesia tova," wishing her a safe journey back to her second home,” the ambassador, who also shared a group photo with Aguirre’s sister, posted.
Nesia tova is a Hebrew term, meaning “have a good trip.”
This was not the first time that Fluss and the embassy have reached out to the families of the victims of the Hamas attack on Israel.
He visited Aguirre’s wake, as well as that of the other Filipino victims. He also hosted Jimmy Pacheco, a Filipino worker held hostage and eventually released by Hamas, and his wife in his residence.
“Since October 7th, @IsraelinPH has been in close contact with all of the Filipinos and their families affected by the horrific #HamasMassacre,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in a post shared by the ambassador.
The Oct. 7 attack by Hamas led to Israel’s retaliation with massive air and ground offensive on Gaza Strip, causing nearly 23,000 Palestinian deaths and triggering the worst humanitarian crisis in the region.