Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 4) — The Israeli government has allowed all 134 Filipinos to leave war-torn Gaza, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday.
The first batch of 20 Filipinos is set to depart Gaza and cross the Rafah border to Egypt on Sunday, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega confirmed to CNN Philippines.
De Vega said the schedule of the second batch, consisting of 30 Filipinos, has yet to be determined.
“But no Palestinian relatives will be allowed, so now there are less [Filipinos] interested to leave,” De Vega said.
He added that around 43 Filipinos are ready to leave Gaza while 8 others remain there.
De Vega earlier said two Filipino physicians successfully exited Gaza through the Rafah crossing point. They were among the 22 staff of the international humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders.
READ: 2 Filipino doctors exit Gaza through Rafah crossing — DFA
In a statement, De Vega noted that a majority of Filipinos chose to remain in Gaza since they did not want to leave their Palestinian family members.
De Vega said at least 30 more slots are available for the second batch of departures, which may be given to other nationals if Filipinos do not claim it.
He added that when Filipinos reach Egypt, the Philippine Embassy in Cairo will pick them up and process their return to Manila.
