78 Filipinos want to leave conflict-stricken Gaza – DFA

Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez AP PHOTO/AARON FAVILA

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said that a total of 78 Filipinos so far have expressed their intentions to leave conflict-stricken Gaza.

In an interview with media, DFA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez said that of the 78 Filipinos,  27 wanted to be repatriated back to the Philippines while 43 wanted to be relocated. The DFA had earlier said that more than a hundred Filipinos reside in the area.

He said that eight others have signified their intentions to be moved out of the area but were “unsure.”

“What our people there are doing now is to contact them again to see if their intentions are firm and at the same time make sure that all arrangements are being done for any movements that has to be done by our people there,” Hernandez said.

Two Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) from the Philippines had been deployed to take care of the Filipinos in the region. About 41, 000 Filipinos, mostly caregivers, live in Israel, the DFA earlier said.

The Israeli government and the Hamas reached an agreement for a ceasefire late Wednesday, after the international community led by Egypt and the United States interceded to end the week-long conflict that has so far claimed the lives of 150 people, including 37 children. International reports, however, noted that amid the ceasefire, a dozen rockets from the Gaza landed in open areas in Israel.

Meanwhile, the Israeli embassy in Manila also issued a statement in support of the ceasefire, saying that it hoped it would put an end to the escalation of violence.

“Israel has acceded to the ceasefire proposal and thereby gives an opportunity to stabilize and calm the situation before there is a need to use greater force,” it said.

“As this holds, Israel will not tolerate rocket attacks on its citizens. No country should be expected to endure terrorist activity against its civilian population,” it added.