The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has issued a complete halt to the deployment of Filipino workers to certain regions in Israel due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas. The recent turmoil began when Hamas launched an unexpected assault on southern Israel’s civilians.
Leo Hans Cacdac, the Officer in Charge at the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), stated on Tuesday that the immediate concern is the safety of Filipinos, especially those in Tel Aviv and the Gaza Strip. He remarked, “No deployment as of now.”
The Philippine government stands prepared to execute mandatory evacuations and repatriation for those Filipinos wishing to return home from Israel. “We are just awaiting guidance from the Israeli government. Safety and security issues will play a significant role if we decide on a mass repatriation,” Cacdac mentioned.
In collaboration with Israeli officials, the repatriation would proceed when deemed appropriate. Cacdac noted that most Filipinos in the Gaza Strip are not employees but spouses of Palestinians, who, alongside their families, also express a desire for potential repatriation.
Reassurance comes for the families of Filipinos in the troubled zones; they’re safe and sheltered in undisclosed locations by the Philippine Embassy. “Those rescued by our embassy are under the care of welfare officers and labor attachés, receiving necessary aid,” added Cacdac.
Regarding the seven unaccounted Filipino workers, their families have been informed about Israel’s prevailing situation. All seven have been identified, one of whom has reportedly been captured by Hamas militants.
On a related note, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Tuesday an increase in the number of Filipinos in Gaza wanting repatriation, with numbers rising from 25 to 38 amidst Israeli forces’ commitment to counteract Hamas.
According to the Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan, 137 Filipinos currently reside in Gaza. DFA’s spokesperson, Ma. Teresita Daza, stated that as of October 9, repatriation pleas from nine families comprising 38 Filipino citizens and 11 Palestinian spouses were received. Daza highlighted, “Among these 38 are 17 minors aged between 2 to 15 years.”