DFA verifying reports of 2 Filipino hostages in Israel-Hamas war

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega on Thursday said they are still verifying reports of two Filipinos being held hostage amid the Israel-Hamas war.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, de Vega said the agency is still “asking the Israel Embassy to verify” such claims.

“We have instructed our Embassy in Tel-Aviv [to] get official confirmation of this from [the] Israeli government. Remember that even before this, we were going by the assumption that they were likely hostages, and [we’ve] engaged in diplomatic talks with friends and partners who may be of assistance,” said de Vega.

A Reuters article earlier disclosed that many of the hostages held captive by the militant group Hamas have dual nationalities, including one from China, one from Sri Lanka, two from Tanzania, and two from the Philippines.

When asked if the DFA has acknowledged these reports, De Vega said not yet.

“Not yet until we are informed formally,” he said.

De Vega earlier told reporters that there are still two unaccounted Filipinos amid the rising tension between Israel and Hamas.

Meanwhile, the number of Filipinos who have died as a result of the armed conflict is at four.

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