Kin of Filipino killed by Iranian strike to receive Israeli aid

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

ASSURANCE. Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh speaks to the media at a press conference in Taguig City on Tuesday (March 3, 2026). She gave updates on the ongoing US-Israel joint operations against Iran and the Israeli government’s support for the family of Filipino caregiver Mary Ann de Vera, who died following retaliatory attacks in Tel Aviv on Feb. 28. (Photo: PNA/Facebook)

MANILA – The family of Mary Ann de Vera, the Filipino caregiver who died following Iran’s retaliation, will receive support from the Israeli government.

Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh made the assurance during a press engagement in Taguig City on Tuesday.

“I can guarantee that the government of Israel will hug this family and will provide everything necessary to provide as much comfort to this family as possible,” she said.

Under Israeli law, Kursh said any person hurt by either war or a terrorist attack, be it an Israeli or foreigner, would be provided with an assistance package. In case of death, the surviving kin will receive livelihood support.

“Mary Ann will be provided this benefit as well. It will not bring back Mary Ann, it will not take away the pain from the family, from the husband and the rest of the family, but it will try to ease at least a bit the day-to-day handlings,” she said.

Kursh said Israel is also willing to provide necessary assistance for the repatriation of De Vera’s remains once Israel’s airspace fully reopens.

De Vera was accompanying her elderly ward to a shelter in Tel Aviv when she was hit by a shrapnel from a retaliatory Iranian missile strike after the US and Israel launched a joint military operation on Tehran on Saturday.

She was the fifth Filipino national to be killed in Israel since October 2023, when the Jewish state was attacked by Hamas terrorists.