Senator Loren Legarda on Sunday, January 19 welcomed the reported ceasefire deal in Gaza that would pause the war between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas starting today.
The ceasefire comes after 15 months of conflict that has left Gaza in devastation, with nearly 47,000 Palestinians killed. Under the deal, 33 hostages are set to be released by Hamas over the next six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians detained by Israel.
“This is a moment of hope in the face of an unspeakable tragedy. Families have endured unbearable pain as they lost loved ones to violence, saw their homes reduced to rubble, and were stripped of any sense of safety,” Legarda noted.
“I welcome this development and urge all relevant parties to uphold their commitments to the ceasefire and hostage release deal,” she said.
Legarda said she herself would have supported the ceasefire even during the Philippines’ abstention from the October 2023 UN resolution on a humanitarian truce in Gaza.
Nevertheless, she stressed the importance of implementing the ceasefire agreement with integrity and good faith considering that Gaza’s humanitarian crisis had reached catastrophic proportions.
The senator also urged the global community to remain vigilant in monitoring its progress and holding all parties accountable.
“This ceasefire must be more than a temporary pause in hostilities. It must open pathways for unhindered humanitarian aid and establish the groundwork for rebuilding lives and communities devastated by the conflict,” Legarda expressed.
“It must enable the full recovery of Gaza, ensuring the safe return of millions displaced by the conflict and the reconstruction of essential infrastructure, including education, healthcare, livelihood and food security systems,” she also said.
Locally, Legarda has been supporting a food chain run by Filipino-Palestinian families who have found refuge in the Philippines after being displaced by war.
“By offering my humble contribution through regularly patronizing their food, I seek to support them in meeting their basic needs and maintaining a livelihood while in the country,” according to the senator.
She also worked closely with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DOJ-RSPPU), monitoring the refugee status applications of Palestinians displaced by war.
She said this effort aligns with the Philippines’ obligations as a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. Under the Refugee Convention and its Protocol, the country is committed to protect the rights and welfare of individuals fleeing persecution and conflict by reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
“By upholding these international agreements, we ensure that refugees are afforded the dignity and security they deserve,” she pointed out.
At the same time, the senator also welcomed the skillful diplomatic efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States in brokering the ceasefire agreement and called for continued international cooperation to achieve lasting peace in the region.
“This ceasefire is a powerful reminder of what is possible when the international community acts with resolve. We must seize this momentum, recognizing that much work remains,” she said.
“All efforts must now be directed toward advancing comprehensive and sustainable solutions, laying the foundation for a credible political pathway that secures a just and stable future for the region, in line with international law,” added the lawmaker.
Legarda also said that while the ceasefire deal brings relief and renewed hope, it must not distract the public from the imperative of confronting the deeper, systemic issues that undermine the prospects for enduring peace.
“Peace cannot flourish where oppression, marginalization, and inequity persist,” she stated.
“The international community must intensify its efforts to ensure that every person enjoys the full measure of their human rights and dignity,” the senator reiterated.