Envoy ‘disturbed’ on pro-Palestine Filipinos burning Israel flag during protest

Screengrab from the League of Filipino Students’ video uploaded on X (formerly Twitter).

MANILA, Philippines — Israel ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss on Friday said he was “shocked” and “disturbed” after pro-Palestine demonstrators in the country burned his nation’s flag during protests.

To denounce Israel’s attacks on Palestine and express their solidarity with the Palestinian people, members of Filipino youth organizations burned the flags of Israel and the United States during a candlelight memorial in Quezon City last week.

Also, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators take part in a rally in Cotabato City on Oct. 16.

“I am quite shocked and disturbed,” Fluss said in an online press briefing when asked to react on the pro-Palestinian rallies in the Philippines.

“But what’s disturbing for me was, we have seen in some footage that they were also burning flags of Israel.

“And to see this happening in the Philippines, which is a country where we have a long history of close relationship and friendship … I would say that it is disturbing to see such demonstrations — of course it’s a democracy — but burning of the Israeli flag, to me, is … a surprise,” Fluss continued.

The Philippines supports Israel in its war against Hamas, with the country’s antiterrorism council pushing for the terrorist designation of the militant group in the country.

Hamas gunmen invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday in a surprise assault on Oct. 7 which killed some 1,400 people, including four Filipinos.

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

In response to the deadliest attack of the militant group in Israel’s history, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said the nation is now preparing for a ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave, which was also the subject of intense bombardment that killed more than 6,500 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

READ: Netanyahu says Israel is preparing ground invasion of Gaza

"SINO? SINO? SINO ANG TERORISTA?"

"ANG U.S.! ANG ISRAEL! SILA ANG TERORISTA!"

In the end of program of YOUTH SOLIDARITY MARCH FOR PALESTINE, Israel and US flags were symbolically burned as commitment of filipino youth to the international solidarity for Palestine's liberation. pic.twitter.com/oOJfe4Iwao

— League of Filipino Students (@LFSPhilippines) October 21, 2023