2 missing Filipinos in Israel ‘likely’ kidnapped, says envoy

MANILA, Philippines — The missing two Filipinos in Israel were “likely” kidnapped amid the Israel-Hamas war, Israeli ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said on Friday.

“It is likely that two OFWs have been kidnapped. But I am saying this: it is likely,” Fluss said in an online interview.

However, Fluss said, “There is no final exact information if they have been kidnapped or not.”

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

Reuters reported that the militant group Hamas was holding captives from different countries, including one from China, one from Sri Lanka, two from Tanzania, and two from the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that there are still two unaccounted Filipinos in Israel, but the agency could not yet confirm whether they were kidnapped.

Meanwhile, according to the DFA, four Filipinos have been killed due to Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas.

READ: DFA: Fourth Filipino killed in Israel-Hamas war