No repatriation yet of OFWs from Israel: labor exec

MANILA – An official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Israel on Friday said repatriation is not yet an option amid the tension in the host country.

“Repatriation, not yet. We’re just on Alert 1. What’s important is for them, to evacuate them to a safe place first,” Labor Attaché in Tel Aviv Rudy Gabasa said in a virtual forum.

Alert Level 1 is issued when there are valid signs of internal disturbance, instability, and external threat to the host country. Filipinos are alerted to take necessary precautions.

He added that implementing a deployment ban on workers is also not necessary.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recommends to home office for alert level. Now, it’s level 1, there is no deployment ban. If it’s already level 2, that’s the time that a ban will be imposed,” he said.

Asked about his personal assessment, Gabasan added, “At the moment, we are taking the cue of the DFA as (part of the) one country team approach.”

At the same time, he supported the statement of Secretary Silvestre Bello III that the department’s rapid response team is ready to assist them whenever the need arises.

“The secretary has instructions for the rapid response team to be ready and to help us here. That is a very welcome development we really need additional personnel to help us extract Filipinos here. If need extraction in their place, we are ready for that. But we also have to follow the protocol of Israel,” he added.

Anadolu Agency reported that the death toll from Israel’s continuing offensive on Gaza has left 109 dead, including 28 children and 15 women, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, while an additional 580 people have been injured.

Seven Israelis have been killed in recent violence — six in rocket attacks, in addition to a soldier who was killed when an anti-tank guided missile struck his jeep.

Tensions have been escalating in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem over the past month as Israeli settlers have repeatedly clashed with residents following a court order for the eviction of Palestinian families in the area.