FILE PHOTO: A man sits on the rubble overlooking the debris of buildings that were targeted by Israeli airstrikes in the Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, November 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled, File)
MANILA, Philippines — A batch of 10 Filipinos is set to return from the besieged Gaza Strip this weekend, according to Foreign Affairs (DFA) Usec. Eduardo de Vega on Friday.
De Vega said a total of 26 Filipinos still remain in Gaza, but less than half will be able to go to the Philippines.
“Mayroong 10 na uuwi this weekend,” said De Vega on Radyo 360.
(There are 10 who will go home this weekend.)
De Vega said that they initially counted 137 Filipinos in Gaza, but 111 have been able to go back to the Philippines since the war broke out.
“Di ba 137 sila? 111 ang naka-alis so 26 pa. Sa 26, 10 ang aalis, ang problema lang sa kanila, yung iba sa kanila ay may asawa na walang permit na lumabas pero sinasabi namin, ‘magbakasakali na kayo kasi yung ibang previous batches nakalusot, nakalusot sa borders’,” he said.
(They are 137, right? 111 have been able to leave, so there are still 26. Their problem is some of them have spouses who do not have a permit, but we say, ‘You may still have a chance because other batches were able to get through the borders.’)
The DFA had said in early November that the Palestinian spouses would be allowed by Israel to leave Gaza with their Filipino partners in principle, but it has yet to be formalized on paper.