Pinoys trapped in Gaza

No way in, no way out; Philippines raises Alert Level 3

MANILA, Philippines — As Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza Strip and as the prospect of a ground invasion mounts, dozens of Filipinos trapped in the besieged Palestinian enclave have “no way in and no way out,” an official said, complicating calls for their voluntary repatriation.

“In Gaza, there’s no way out and no way in,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in Filipino in an interview on TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

Israeli authorities on Monday ordered the shutting off of electricity, water, food and fuel supplies in Gaza as Israel soldiers prepare for a ground campaign to flush out leaders and members of the Islamist group Hamas, which launched deadly attacks on the Jewish state, particularly in areas near the border with Gaza.

According to De Vega, the Philippine government is appealing to diplomatic contacts to allow or help 70 Filipinos leave Gaza. Many of them are spouses of Palestinians.

De Vega said the crisis alert in Gaza has been raised to Level 3, which allows voluntary repatriation.

The Philippine embassy in Jordan, which has jurisdiction over Gaza, recommended placing Gaza under Alert Level 3 on Tuesday.

Esty Buzgan, deputy chief of mission of the Israeli embassy in Manila, said Israel has no plan of lifting the blockade on Gaza.

“If we open, with what’s happening, we’re going to have more terrorists in Israel and we can’t allow that,” Buzgan said in an online media briefing.

“We have to make sure we don’t have any more breachers and we don’t have more terror attacks in our country,” she said. Two Filipinos were confirmed to have died in the violence in Israel.

The Philippines has condemned the killings and other acts of terrorism and violence sparked by Hamas attacks on Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to “wipe out” Hamas and said there is “no contradiction” between launching a ground offensive and rescuing hostages.

The Israeli military said it had hit more than 2,300 “Hamas targets” to date in response to Saturday’s deadly incursion by the militant group, while more than 4,500 rockets had been fired from Gaza.?

Israeli media reported that more than 1,000 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and at least 2,806 people injured since the beginning of the attacks last Saturday.

In close contact with Israel

President Marcos, in his phone conversation with the families of the two confirmed Filipino dead, said his administration is working closely with Israel to ensure the safety of the overseas Filipino workers and the Filipino community in Israel.

He added the Philippine government would immediately conduct the necessary repatriation efforts for affected Filipinos if and when the Israeli government agrees to open its “humanitarian corridors.”

“Tel Aviv is still open, maybe, just in case, we can do something in the Tel Aviv airport. Maybe we can send a plane there. You may join,” Marcos said in the phone call.

“But we are waiting for the permission from the Israeli (government), because the Israeli government will tell when we can repatriate the Filipinos. We are fixing that now. You can be sure, we will do everything as soon as possible,” he said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has said it is ready to conduct evacuation when necessary. The military is planning to dispatch two C-130 and C-295 military planes if ordered to join the humanitarian mission.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said financial and other necessary assistance would be provided to Filipinos in Israel who would opt for repatriation.

“We are preparing for the flight and there will be repatriation among those who requested repatriation,” DMW officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac said at a press conference yesterday.

Aside from cash aid, the DMW will also facilitate new employment for repatriated Filipinos who may choose to work abroad again.

So far, Cacdac said 22 OFWs – 19 caregivers and three hotel workers – have expressed readiness to get repatriated. The OFWs, he said, have either already completed their employment or given permission by their employers to leave.

Cacdac said the number of OFWs wanting to be repatriated is expected to increase.

The DMW will take charge of the repatriation of OFWs from Israel while the Department of Foreign Affairs would take charge of the repatriation of those staying in Gaza.

The DMW, Cacdac said, has already received from their hotline around 120 requests for assistance. “Most of them have already been provided assistance and have been accounted for,” he said.

Migrant consultant and recruitment expert Manny Geslani, meanwhile, said at least 70 Filipina caregivers who lost their employers and houses during the attacks have sought help to get repatriated. He said the workers suffered extreme trauma after their experience.

Based on a survey done by the DMW, 500 OFWs in the conflicted-affected areas have marked themselves safe. He also said two wounded Filipino workers have been discharged from hospital and are now staying in Tel Aviv.

Repatriation of fatalities

The DMW chief also said they are working on the repatriation of the remains of the two OFWs killed as a result of the Hamas attack in Gaza.

Furthermore, the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration have provided assistance to a handful of Israel-bound OFWs left stranded in another Middle East country.

Cacdac said DMW has yet to determine the number of OFWs who were unable to leave for Israel as a result of the conflict.

Meanwhile, Pangasinan Rep. Maria Rachel Arenas, chairperson of the House committee on foreign affairs, condemned the killing of the two Filipinos due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“I strongly condemn the pointless killing of two innocent Filipinos caught in the fierce fighting between Israel and Hamas. This senseless violence must immediately stop to avoid further bloodshed and loss of life,” she said in a statement.

“To the families, one of which was my very own kababayan from Pangasinan, I express my most heartfelt sympathies. I know that you feel so much pain especially that your loved ones were tragically taken away from you while trying to find safety and escape the combat zone,” she said.

“This is especially heartbreaking since they have nothing to do with this wretched conflict. Know that your government is here and ready to assist and reach out to you in every possible way,” Arenas, a senior administration legislator, added.

“Finally, to the instigators of the hostilities, I have nothing but contempt for your actions and I pray that you will be soon held accountable and be brought to justice. The world has no place for people like you,” she said. — Mayen Jaymalin, Delon Porcalla, Rudy Santos