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MANILA, Philippines--(UPDATE) As Israel continues its military offensive in Gaza, 66 Filipinos there have agreed to be repatriated back to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has said.
In a text message Sunday, Esteban Conejos, DFA undersecretary for migrant workers affairs, said: "We have booked flights for 66 Filipino nationals who have agreed to leave Gaza and be repatriated to the Philippines. The plan is to move them on Monday out of Gaza and into Amman [in Jordan], from where they'll take their flight to Manila."
Up to 106 Gaza residents were born to at least one Filipino parent, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's spokesman Jesus Dureza said.
Conejos said there were no immediate plans to repatriate Filipinos living in southern Israel, which has been hit by rockets fired across the border by Hamas militants that have since sparked the Israeli invasion.
Invading Israeli ground forces fought fierce battles with Hamas in Gaza on Sunday after escalating an eight-day bombing blitz that killed hundreds of Palestinians and wreaked widespread destruction.
The United Nations and other international humanitarian groups have called for an end to the attacks that have caused serious displacement among residents and disruption to their daily life.
