Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip, on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. | AP Photo/Fatima Shbair
MANILA, Philippines (Updated) — The ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas has already claimed the lives of two Filipinos, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said on Wednesday.
“[The] Philippines condemns the killing of two Filipino nationals and all other acts of terrorism and violence as a result of Hamas actions against Israel,” said Manalo in a tweet.
“The Philippines is ready to work with other countries towards a long-lasting resolution to the conflict, in accordance with pertinent UN Security Council Resolutions and the general principles of international law,” he added.
Manalo has yet to provide other details on the two fatalities, but according to the foreign affairs official, the Philippine government will continue to provide all possible assistance to distressed Filipino nationals in Israel and Palestine.
READ: Israel and Palestinian war: What you need to know now
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Eduardo de Vega, however, revealed in a radio interview that the two fatalities were among the unaccounted Filipinos previously reported by the agency.
“Dalawa sa mga missing na Pilipino ay pumanaw na. Hindi pa kami magre-release ng details hanggang may ginawang announcement po mamayang hapon maaaring si Pangulo[ng Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] mismo,” said De Vega over Radyo 630.
(Two of the missing Filipinos have died. We will not release details until an announcement is made this afternoon, possibly by President Marcos himself.)
According to De Vega, there are still five missing Filipinos in Israel as of this posting.
Asking to be repatriated
Meanwhile, he said 50 individuals in the Gaza Strip are now asking to be repatriated.
“Sa Gaza Strip ay walang casualties, ngunit parami nang parami ang gustong magpa-repatriate. Singkwenta ang gustong magpa repatriate from Gaza. Sa Israel ay wala pa pong gustong magpa repatriate,” said De Vega.
(In the Gaza Strip there are no casualties, but more and more people want to be repatriated. Fifty want to be repatriated from Gaza. In Israel, no one wants to be repatriated yet.)
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