Israel conflict claims 4th Filipino casualty

(UPDATE) ANOTHER caregiver was the fourth Filipino killed in the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo reported on Thursday.

«I regret to inform the nation that we have received confirmation from the Israeli government of another Filipino casualty in Israel,» Manalo posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a radio interview the latest fatality was among the three Filipinos earlier reported as missing after Hamas fighters attacked Israel on October 7.

Manalo did not identify the female caregiver on her family's request. «But we have assured the family of the government's full support and assistance,» he said.

The other fatalities were Loreta Alacre, a caregiver from Negros Oriental; Angeline Aguirre, a nurse; and Paul Vincent Castelvi, a 42-year-old caregiver.

In an online interview later Thursday, de Vega said the latest Filipino fatality was from one of the kibbutzim or small Israeli settlements raided by Hamas.

«The Israeli minister did not provide us complete details other than to confirm the fourth casualty. And of course we already condemned the attacks on Israel on our countrymen,» he said.

«The reason why some of them died was because they did not abandon their work, something the Israelis praise [about] our kababayans' work,» de Vega said.

He said he cannot confirm if the fourth fatality was abducted and then killed, only that «she was one of the three missing Filipinos that we were hoping to find.»

De Vega also said there were no Filipino casualties in the bombing of the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza which killed over 500 people.

He said all 135 Filipinos in Gaza were waiting to be allowed by Israeli forces to cross the Rafah border to reach Egypt.

The Philippine embassies in Israel, Egypt and Jordan are ready for the «worst case scenario» that might arise from the escalating conflict, he said.

The worst that could happen «is that if our Filipinos in Gaza would not be able to leave,» de Vega said.

«But how are we prepared for that? Well, first we are diplomats. So, we have to show optimism. There will be a solution,» he said.

The DFA