DFA: Only 46 Pinoys now want to leave Gaza

THE Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday said only 46 Filipinos have signified their intention to exit Gaza and evacuate to Egypt amid the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said 115 Filipinos initially wanted to leave Gaza but some of then backed out after learning they could not bring their Palestinian spouses or relatives with them to Egypt.

“Originally, 115 but only 46 are willing to leave right now. The rest still want to go, but they won’t leave without their Palestinian spouses or relatives,” De Vega said in a Viber message when sought for update on the condition of Filipinos in Gaza.

“Filipinos currently at Rafah crossing not consistent throughout any day, but the 46 when given notice will be ready to cross at any time when told,” he added.

De Vega earlier said Manila has been informed by the Israeli government that all 136 Filipinos in Gaza have been given the clearance to evacuate out of the war-torn territory that is home to about 2.5 million people.

Of the 136, De Vega said, two have crossed to Egypt. The two are physicians who are volunteers for the humanitarian aid group Doctors Without Borders.

Efforts to get foreign nationals out of Gaza started last week but US officials said the process had been held up by Hamas’ attempt to get its own wounded fighters included among those to be escorted into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing.

De Vega said only six Filipinos remain in Gaza City now, including a nun.

“All others are on safer ground either at Rafah border crossing or in southern Gaza,” he added.

The Israeli Defense Forces previously asked Palestinians to move from northern Gaza, where most of the fighting with Hamas has been taking place, to evacuate to southern Gaza.

De Vega expressed hope the evacuation of Filipinos from Gaza will start today.

“Circumstances keep changing. This is war. But today (Sunday), 20 were supposed to leave, but it was suspended due to Hamas attacks,” he also said.

“Now they are supposed to leave tomorrow. Then another batch of 26, day not yet determined but soon,” he added.

The DFA on October 15 placed Gaza City under Alert Level 4, which means