‘LIKELY DEATH’ | DFA verifying reports of first Filipino death in Israel-Palestine conflict

October 10, 2023 , 09:46 PM

By Clarist Zablan

(October 10, 2023) – The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said it is verifying reports that a Filipino woman may have died in raging conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants.

Citing a Philippine embassy report said the Filipino woman was among seven people reported missing when members of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) attacked a kibbutzim on Saturday.

“The Embassy’s Labor Attache and Welfare Officer are on the ground to assist the sister of the said Filipina in confirming this with the Israel Police,” it said.

Israel has placed the Gaza Strip under total siege and launched a fierce counterattack after Palestinian Islamist group Hamas crossed into Israel in a sneak attack last Saturday, according to foreign media reports.

Israeli media estimated 900 people killed by the Hamas attack. Many were also taken hostage. Strikes from Israel have also killed nearly 700 Gazans and displaced 180,000.

Six overseas Filipinos in the Middle Eastern country still remain missing. There are no confirmed reports of Filipinos killed in the conflict yet.

Of the 29 Filipinos initially reported missing, 23 have been found or rescued. All of them have been brought to safe areas, while one of them is in hospital for treatment of moderate injuries he sustained during the rescue operation.

“Coordinating with Israeli authorities and local contacts, the Embassy is exhausting all available mea ns to ascertain the condition of the still missing Filipinos,” the embassy said.

There are an estimated 40,000 Filipinos in Israel, most of whom are living and working as caregivers outside the conflict area. The Philippines’ foreign affairs department estimated 137 Filipinos in Gaza.

No travel ban has been announced yet in Israel, the department said. But foreign affairs undersecretary Eduardo De Vega urged the public to avoid traveling to the country at the moment while the conflict is still ongoing.

“We’re not telling you not to go but we’re advising you that it’s best, if possible, to postpone them until we’re absolutely sure that the hostilities have ended because after all, even the Prime Minister of Israel has said that we are in a state of war,” De Vega told Palace reporters.

(MM)

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