42 OFWs from Israel arrive in PH on Tuesday

A picture taken from the southern Israeli border city of Sderot shows smoke rising above buildings in the Gaza Strip during an Israeli strike on November 4, 2023, as battles between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants continue. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — More overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are expected to return home from Israel with a sixth batch of 42 OFWs arriving in Manila on Tuesday, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

“The DMW expects more returning OFWs as hostilities between Israel’s Defense Forces and Hamas show no signs of toning down in the coming weeks,” it said in a statement.

A group of 23 Filipinos, including an infant, who were repatriated from Israel, arrived on Monday via Etihad Airways flight EY 424 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

Nineteen of the returning OFWs are caregivers while the three others are hotel workers, the DMW said.

The DMW also confirmed the arrival of the remains of Mary Grace Prodigo-Cabrera, one of four Filipino caregivers who worked in Kibbutz Be’eri and died during the initial attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Cabrera’s cremated remains were brought back by her sister Mary June Prodigo, also an OFW in Tel Aviv, who was among the fifth batch of returnees.

The return to the country of these two batches this week will bring to a total of 184 the number of OFWs repatriated from Israel.