The Philippines has joined the global call for an immediate end to the deepening humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, stressing the urgency of protecting civilians and reviving peace efforts in the Middle East.
In a statement on Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Manila is “deeply concerned by recent developments, including the Israeli government’s planned full military takeover of Gaza.” The agency also pointed to the severe restrictions on food, water, and other vital aid, the displacement of hundreds of thousands, and continued reports of settlement expansion in the West Bank.
“These developments aggravate an already dire humanitarian situation and further diminish prospects for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East,” the DFA warned. It added that the Philippines “strongly calls on Israel to heed the ceasefire proposal as a crucial step to protect civilians and revive the path to peace.”
The Palestinian Embassy in Manila earlier described the situation as a “humanitarian catastrophe,” citing over 780,000 displaced Palestinians in recent months, 400 homes destroyed in Zeitoun, and UNICEF reports that 112 children fall into malnutrition every day.
Israel, however, rejected criticisms of its settlement plans. Oren Marmorstein, spokesperson for Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on X that the Jewish people’s connection to the Land of Israel “does not require the affirmation of foreign governments,” dismissing outside pressure as an attempt to “impose foreign dictates.”
