38 Filipinos in Gaza seek repatriation

Based on the latest embassy data, there are 137 Filipinos in Gaza, which is under the Palestinian Authority but governed by the militant group Hamas. (File Photo: Catholic Church England and Wales/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

MANILA – The Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan has recommended the declaration of crisis Alert Level 3 or voluntary repatriation from Gaza, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.

Based on the latest embassy data, there are 137 Filipinos in Gaza, which is under the Palestinian Authority but governed by the militant group Hamas.

In a Palace briefing, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the government is ready to assist 38 Filipinos who have asked to be repatriated.

“We are in the process and we are working on it,” he said.

The recommendation is subject to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s approval.

In case Marcos approves the recommendation, Gaza will be under a “restricted phase,” de Vega said.

“Our Embassy in Amman, which has jurisdiction over Gaza, has recommended, nilagay na ‘yung (to place) Gaza (unde)] Alert Level 3, which is voluntary repatriation. So, hindi pa (it is still not) mandatory. This will be cleared with the President,” he said.

“Hindi pa ina-announce na pero (It’s not yet final but) we are going by that. Parang de facto na kahit hindi pa officially pinirmahan ni Presidente or in-announce (It’s like de facto that while the President has yet to sign an official document or make a formal announcement), we could say that it’s (already) under voluntary repatriation.”

The repatriation process, however, will not be without challenges.

“It’s not a simple matter po na magpapadala po tayo ng eroplano, magha-hire ng charter na eroplano, kasi wala ng flights (for us to send a plane, hire a charter plane because there are no flights) or even ships. The normal way to get out of Gaza is through Israel, through the border of Israel, which is already closed,” de Vega said.

The DFA has four alert levels – Alert Level 1, precautionary phase; Alert Level 2, restriction phase; Alert Level 3, voluntary repatriation phase; and Alert Level 4, mandatory evacuation/repatriation.

Alert Level 3 is issued when “violent disturbances or external aggression occur in a limited area.”

‘On top of the situation’

Despite the latest developments, de Vega assured the public that the Philippine government is “on top of the situation” to ensure the safety and security of Filipinos amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

He said the DFA would only recommend the mandatory evacuation of Filipinos “if the situation escalates.”

He added that while there is no recommendation to declare a crisis alert level in Israel, the government is currently “in the precautionary phase because we have to prepare.”

De Vega also expressed optimism that peace would prevail amid the conflict.

“They (Israelis) are the ones undertaking operation against Gaza. So, we’d like to call eventually for a peaceful resolution and respect for international law and hopefully, peace will prevail,” he said.

“Our efforts now are on ensuring the safety, monitoring the safety of our kababayans (compatriots), including hopefully, we’ll be able to find out what happened to seven more missing.”

Filipinos who may require assistance are requested to contact the embassy through ATN (Assistance to Nationals) hotlines +962-7-7907-7775 and 7-7907-7778.

On Tuesday, the Anadolu news agency reported that the number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli forces in Gaza has risen to 687, including 140 children, citing the Gaza-based Health Ministry.

In retaliation, the Israeli army launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

At least 900 Israelis have been killed and more than 2,600 others wounded in the fighting, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.