Filipinos from Israel, Gaza begin arriving

MANILA, Philippines — Seventeen Filipinos in Israel who have opted for repatriation are expected to arrive in Manila this afternoon, as hopes brighten for the others wishing to leave the devastated Gaza with the possible opening “any day now” of the Rafah border crossing into Egypt.

In a statement, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said the Etihad Airlines plane carrying the 17 Filipinos is expected to arrive at 3:55 p.m. today.

“They will be met and assisted by various government agencies,” the DMW said.

They were from southern Israel where militant group Hamas launched unprecedented surprise terror attacks on Oct. 7.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said yesterday in an interview with GMA that Israeli and Egyptian authorities were working on letting Filipinos pass through the Rafah border, the only way out of Gaza after Israel closed its crossings in preparation for a ground invasion of the besieged territory.

“They’re still working on border arrangements. But let’s see because according to the Israel ambassador it could be any day now,” De Vega said in Filipino.

At a meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo yesterday, Israel Ambassador Ilan Fluss assured the Philippine official of Tel Aviv’s help in repatriating the remains of the Filipinos killed in the violence.

“Israel will help in bringing home the remains of the Filipinos killed and will extend assistance to the bereaved families,” the embassy said in a Facebook post.

On Monday, De Vega said the Philippines got in touch with Egyptian authorities to work out an arrangement that would allow Filipinos to cross into Egypt if and when it opens its Rafah border.

Rafah, which borders Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula with the Hamas-controlled Gaza, is the only border crossing in Gaza not controlled by Israel. The Jewish state has been enforcing a blockade on the strip since 2002.

“We’re talking to them (Egyptian authorities) not only to open the border but also to give permission to Filipinos,” he said.

The names of Filipinos in Gaza, including the 78 waiting to be allowed into Egypt through the Rafah border, have been submitted to Egyptian