Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 19) — Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega on Thursday said the opening of the Rafah border crossing will be at “any time” but only for a limited span of hours, as embassy officials wait for developments to evacuate Filipinos from conflict-torn Gaza.
In a briefing, De Vega said that “there are already arrangements being made” for the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave, and Philippine embassy officials are “ready at any moment” for the crossing’s opening.
He added that there has been “positive development” regarding the opening of the border crossing with Egypt in the south of the Strip, as US President Joe Biden made a high-profile visit to Israel on Wednesday.
READ: Biden touts aid negotiations for Gaza, as US assesses Israel ‘not responsible’ for hospital blast
“The Israelis have also said to be ready at any time because it could be on any day,” De Vega said. “And when it’s opened, it will not be a permanent opening it will be for a window, maybe 12 hours, 24 hours.”
“We welcome this news that there’s progress and we’re reminding our kababayans again to get ready,” he added.
He also said that no Filipino was reported to be in the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, which suffered a blast that may have killed hundreds.
In a statement on Wednesday night, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines is “profoundly saddened” over the attack on the hospital and expressed grief on the hundreds of innocent lives lost.
“All parties should do their utmost to protect civilians in times of war and armed conflict,” the DFA said. “We support efforts of the United Nations to provide humanitarian relief in the conflict areas.”
The DFA has placed Gaza under Alert Level 4 or mandatory repatriation.
