Alert Level 3 in Israel stays until further notice; repat continues

Department of Foreign Affairs (Photo By JDipterocarpus/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the voluntary repatriation phase or Alert Level 3 in Israel will remain in place, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said Wednesday.

De Vega said the DFA would wait for the official recommendation of the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv on whether to retain or downgrade the alert level as activities in Israel slowly return to normal after the ceasefire with Iran.

“Still Alert Level 3. We shall await (the) recommendations of Ambassador (Aileen Mendiola),” he told the Philippine News Agency in a text message.

Israel has officially ended its state of emergency after declaring a “historic victory” in its 12-day military action against Iran.

The Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command has since lifted all restrictions on schools, public gatherings, and workplaces.

De Vega, on the other hand, assured that repatriation for those who have requested to leave Israel would continue.

As Israel mulls to fully reopen its airspace, the repatriation via Jordan will likely be put on hold, he said.

“There are around 50 (scheduled for repatriation) through Jordan but this has been put on hold muna (in the meantime),” he added.

Based on the latest data from the Philippine Embassy in Israel, about 340 Filipinos have requested to return to the Philippines, including the 50 confirmed for repatriation.

In the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict, at least 135 Filipinos lost their homes due to missile impact, 125 of whom have been transferred to temporary housing accommodations and Department of Migrant Workers shelters.

A total of 26 overseas Filipino workers have returned to the Philippines while 100 Filipino pilgrims and students have been repatriated earlier.

Of the eight Filipinos injured in the Iranian air raids, seven have been discharged while one is still in critical condition after sustaining severe injuries.

The embassy said the Filipina has undergone two surgeries and is being treated at the intensive care unit of the Shamir Medical Center.

Meanwhile, 402 Filipinos have received various forms of assistance from the embassy, such as emergency financial assistance, provision of temporary shelter, relief packages containing food, clothes, and hygiene products.

Under Alert Level 3, Filipinos in Israel are encouraged to undergo voluntary repatriation.

Those willing to avail of the embassy’s assistance under this program may contact:

Email address: israel@owwa.gov.ph

Telephone number: +972-3-602-2496

WhatsApp number: +972-50-715-6937