Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 17) — The first batch of Filipino repatriates is scheduled to leave Israel on Tuesday amid the Jewish state’s ongoing conflict with militant group Hamas, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
“They are flying today and arriving tomorrow in the afternoon, around 4 p.m. via Etihad, there is 17 of them,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
He added that eight of the 17 repatriates are from southern Israel where Hamas launched its large-scale surprise attack early this month, which triggered the ongoing war. The eight Filipinos chose to return to the Philippines after losing their jobs.
Another Filipino will follow and will leave Israel in a few days, De Vega said.
All 135 Filipinos in Gaza are in safe grounds, he said. Around 78 of them are waiting for the Rafah crossing to open to be able to cross to Egypt, he added.
De Vega said Egypt and Israel are still addressing security concerns like making sure that the crossing will not be used by Hamas to escape to Egyptian territory.
Once accessible, the Filipinos who will be crossing will first stay in a holding center where their entry will be processed. They will then be brought to Cairo so they can be repatriated to the Philippines, De Vega explained.
The DFA official said a few more have indicated their intention to leave Gaza. But he said some have changed their minds especially those married to Palestinians because only foreign citizens will be allowed to cross the border.
De Vega said authorities are also looking into reports of Filipinos resorting to eating spoiled food as supply in Gaza runs out.
