HIGH DANGER | Alert Level 3 up in Gaza, Marcos vows support for families of two dead Filipinos

October 12, 2023 , 03:52 PM

(October 12, 2023) – As violence persists in Gaza, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday raised Alert Level 3 for Filipinos in the area to consider voluntary repatriation amid the escalating fight between a militant group and Israel’s defense forces.

DFA undersecretary Eduardo De Vega confirmed the development to News5.

“This means that the government is calling on Filipinos to consider repatriation on a voluntary basis,” said De Vega.

On Wednesday, the government said at least 70 Filipinos in Gaza expressed their desire to return to the Philippines. An estimated 150 Filipinos are in Gaza, one of the most densely populated places in the world.

Filipinos in Israel have been advised to restrict their non-essential movements. No overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can be deployed there until the alert gets lifted.

In its latest report, the DFA said two Filipinos died from the widespread violence between Israel and Hamas. President Bongbong Marcos Jr. called the wife of the 42-year-old Filipino who died last Saturday, the day when Hamas launched its “surprise attack.”

“Napakalaking gulo talaga ng nangyari,” said Marcos, as quoted by the Presidential Communications Office. “Magsabi ka sa amin kung anong kailangan mo. Nandito ang gobyerno para tulungan ka. Gusto ko lang makausap ka para alam mo naman inaalala ka namin at nakikiramay kami.”

Marcos vowed to provide financial assistance to the bereaved. He added that the government is exploring every possible way to bring the remains of the two casualties back to the Philippines. He also encouraged the families of the victims to inform the Philippine Embassy in Israel about their concerns.

As of now, Marcos said they are closely working with their counterparts in Israel to protect OFWs and other Filipinos there. He recently met with Israel ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss at Malacañang and reaffirmed the support of the Philippines.

More than 1,000 people have died while 2,700 others have been injured because of the tense battle between Israel and Hamas.

Gaza, a Palestinian enclave where over two million people live, faced intense bombardment from Israel in response to the attack of Hamas. Aside from the killings, Israel also reported that the militant group took dozens of hostages when it retreated to Gaza.

Human rights groups urged Israel to stop its “total siege” of Gaza because the act contravenes international law. Children comprise at least half of the population in the area.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is seeking $104 million for its humanitarian response covering the food, non-food, health, shelter, and other needs of refugees.

“All parties must respect international humanitarian law. They must immediately cease attacks targeting civilians and attacks expected to cause disproportionate death and injury of civilians or damage to civilian objects,” said UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Turk.

(PM | With reports from Camille Samonte, News5)

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