2 Filipino doctors from Gaza cross into Egypt

(UPDATE) TWO Filipino doctors were among the 22 staff of the Doctors Without Borders (DWB) who crossed into Egypt from Gaza, as 115 other Filipinos wait their turn to leave the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

«Yes, the two Filipino doctors have crossed into Egypt, based on an update from Post,» DFA spokesman Ma. Teresita Daza said in a text message, referring to the Philippine Embassy in Jordan.

Information provided by the Philippine Ambassador in Amman, Jordan, indicated there are 115 other Filipinos in Gaza who are «waiting for the signal to cross the border,» Daza said.

Only 19 Filipinos, including a nun, were still undecided whether to leave or stay, she said.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a virtual interview that the DWB facilitated the release of the Filipino doctors at the Rafah border crossing. «They will be sent to Cairo, Egypt to receive their new assignments from DWB,» de Vega said.

«We salute them. They belong to a noble organization which sends doctors and medical workers to areas in crisis situations. That's good news. It's a good sign that they were the very first ones who crossed the border,» he said in Filipino and English.

Asked what was holding up the passage of the rest of the Filipinos from Gaza, de Vega said, «The situation here is, before the Egyptians receive them at the border or visa processing, they need permission first from Israeli authorities.»

«We're talking to Israel authorities and reminding them of our support for them and the good relations between our two countries. So, we're asking to give us priority,» he said.

De Vega said the DFA has been informed that all of the foreigners waiting at the border will be allowed to exit Gaza.

«The problem is there are over 7,000 [foreigners] and the Rafah border can't accommodate them all at once. They were releasing names [daily] maybe 500 at most. We're requesting that Filipinos be included in the next batch,» he said.

«We're hoping they will be able to cross tomorrow (Friday),» de Vega said.

Its website describes The Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières as an international humanitarian organization whose teams