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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH joins global outcry on Gaza humanitarian catastrophe

PH joins global outcry on Gaza humanitarian catastrophe

Published Aug 25, 2025 09:41 am  |  Updated Aug 25, 2025 01:17 pm

At A Glance

  • The DFA said the Philippines was deeply concerned over Israel's planned full military takeover of Gaza and the continuing restrictions on access to life-saving humanitarian aid such as food and water.
The Philippines has joined the international community in calling for an urgent end to what it described as the “ever-worsening humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi, File)
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi, File)
In a statement on Monday, Aug. 25, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines was deeply concerned over Israel’s planned full military takeover of Gaza and the continuing restrictions on access to life-saving humanitarian aid such as food and water.
“The Philippines joins the international community in its urgent call for an end to the ever-worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,” it said.
It also cited large-scale displacement, attacks affecting civilians, and reports of settlement expansion in the West Bank as developments that worsen an already dire situation.
“These developments aggravate an already dire humanitarian situation and further diminish prospects for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East,” the statement read.
The Philippines stressed that a ceasefire is essential to protect civilians and to revive the path toward peace.
“The Philippines, therefore, strongly calls on Israel to heed the ceasefire proposal as a crucial step to protect civilians and revive the path to peace,” it said.
The call comes amid growing alarm from humanitarian organizations over famine, mass displacement, and widespread destruction in Gaza following intensified Israeli military operations.
President Marcos had earlier made similar remarks in an interview with India’s Firstpost, where he described the human toll of the conflict as “unacceptable” and appealed for aid to flow freely into Gaza.
“The death, the destruction, and now the starvation that is occurring there – they should not be happening in this day and age,” Marcos said early this month, adding that the suffering of children was “not fair” and “not right.”
“We look on in horror at the death, the destruction, the suffering. But what always brings tears to my eyes are the children,” he added.
Despite this, Marcos said outside pressure was limited in effect and emphasized that real decisions must come from Israel itself.
“Israel has to decide to allow humanitarian aid to come in,” he said.
“We can put pressure on them. We can have resolutions in the United Nations. But at the end, the Israeli leadership has to decide that, okay, enough humanitarian costs,” he added.
The President said he wishes that the fighting would stop.
“We really would wish the fighting would stop, because again, when you watch the videos that are coming out of Ukraine, it looks like World War II. And I thought, you know, this is 2025,” he said.
“I thought humanity had learned its lesson already. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Yes, in a lot of ways,” he added.

Related Tags

DFA GAZA PH-Israel
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