A 49-year-old Filipina caregiver from Negros Occidental has become the third Filipino casualty in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega made the announcement on Friday, noting the increase in the number of Filipino deaths to three.
The family of the deceased, as well as President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., have been informed of the unfortunate incident. “The Philippine government is collaborating with the family and the embassy for the repatriation of the remains. Israel is also communicating with her sisters in Kuwait regarding this matter,” De Vega informed Palace reporters.
De Vega highlighted that three other Filipinos have been missing for almost a week since the sudden Hamas assault and the subsequent Israeli military response. However, he expressed hope, saying, “There were many missing Filipinos a week ago, and the number has been decreasing. We remain hopeful that these three will reappear soon.”
It is estimated that around 30,000 Filipinos reside in Israel, with a majority employed as caregivers. In the Hamas-controlled Gaza area, there are 131 Filipinos, including three tourists. Notably, 92 of them have expressed their desire to be repatriated. The repatriation process faces challenges due to Gaza’s current blockade. “Not one has been repatriated yet. We are collaborating with our diplomatic allies to find a solution,” De Vega commented.
Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro, in a separate statement, emphasized that his department is “ready, willing, and able to facilitate repatriation” for Filipinos in Israel.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año expressed intentions to advocate for Hamas’s designation as a terrorist group under the Anti-Terrorism Law.
Amid these developments, Israel has intensified its military presence around Gaza, mobilizing tanks, other heavy machinery, and summoning 300,000 reservists. The army reported on Thursday that since its operations began on Saturday, they have launched approximately 6,000 munitions, amounting to 4,000 tonnes of explosives on Hamas targets. Palestinian authorities have reported over 1,350 casualties, with the majority being civilians.