About 150 Filipinos caught up in the Gaza war
Stranded in the Gaza Strip, their fate worries the Philippine government but their resilience in the face of adversity is a source of pride for Filipinos at home. Israel is host to 30,000 migrants from the Asian country; at least four died in the Hamas attack on 7 October.
Milan (AsiaNews) – At least 150 Filipino migrant workers are also caught up in Israel’s siege of Gaza, their fate a source of concern at home but also pride for their ability to show solidarity and resilience in a situation of extreme difficulty. Their situation is widely reported in the Philippine media.
In Manila, the government last Sunday ordered the mandatory evacuation of all Philippine nationals from Gaza due to the risk of an imminent Israeli invasion; at present, while trying to stay in touch with them, it is seeking a way out through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, which is still closed.
About 30,000 Filipinos live in Israel, one of the country’s largest Asian immigrant communities; most of them, however, are far from the current conflict zone, but are still at risk.
In this stage of the war when tensions are still running high, Filipinos in the Strip have shown remarkable solidarity. Some families have been taken in by compatriots living near the Egyptian border, while others have reached Gaza’s northern limits for evacuation under orders of the Israeli military.
As everyone waits for repatriation to take place, the "Bayanihan spirit is alive among our nationals," the Philippine Embassy in Egypt is quoted as saying.
With Israel’s blockade in place, "One way that they have endured this suffering and deprivation” is by “helping each other survive this ordeal," Philippine Ambassador to Egypt Ezzedin Tago is quoted as saying.
“I regret to inform the nation that we have received confirmation from the Israeli government of another Filipino casualty in Israel,” twitted today Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on X. This brings the total number of Filipinos killed as a result of the Hamas attack on 7 October to four.
No information about the latest casualty’s identity is available. The other three who suffered a similar fate include a nurse and two caregivers. Philippine authorities have informed their families and pledged to provide them with government support.
(Photo from the Facebook page of the Philippine Embassy in Israel)
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