64 OFWs from Israel to return this week; Filipinos' exit from Gaza seen to be delayed anew

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 6) — Sixty-four overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel are expected to return to the country this week while those crossing from the Gaza border to Egypt will be delayed again due to the continuous Israel-Hamas conflict, authorities said on Monday.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed that the 64 OFWs from Israel will arrive in batches, with 22 arriving on Monday as the fifth batch. Another 42 OFWs are expected to arrive on Tuesday as the sixth batch.

The 22 OFWs will fly home on Monday via Etihad Airways flight EY 424 to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3 (NAIA-3), DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac said in a statement.

The department said 19 of the OFWs are caregivers while three are hotel workers.

“Additionally, the remains of OFW Mary Grace Prodigo-Cabrera will be brought back by her sister Mary June Prodigo who is part of this latest group of returnees,” Cacdac added, referring to the fifth batch.

The DMW said that Mary Grace was one of four OFWs who died on the first day of the attacks launched by Hamas on Oct. 7.

“The return to the country of these two batches this week will bring to a total of 184 the number of OFWs who have come back to the Philippines from Israel,” Cacdac said.

The Philippines expects more returning Filipinos as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues and the war shows no signs of toning down for the coming weeks, the DMW concluded.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said in a separate statement on Monday that the return of OFWs from Gaza will once again be delayed due to the growing Israel-Hamas conflict.

“There are still 20 Pinoys in this first batch. But as of now, we are not even certain that there will be a crossing today. It could be three straight days with the Rafah crossing closed. We will find out later. We are six hours advance time,” De Vega released an update on Monday.

Originally, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that the initial date of departure for the first batch of returning OFWs from Gaza was on Sunday, then it was moved on Monday and is expected to be moved again on Tuesday.

Last week,