Japan PM Kishida expresses sympathy for Filipinos killed in Israel-Hamas war

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 3) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday expressed sympathy for Filipinos killed in the ongoing tension between Israel and the militant group Hamas.

Four overseas Filipinos died during the attacks.

“Allow me first to express my condolences for the Filipino citizens that were killed in the terrorist attacks by Palestinian militant groups including Hamas,” Kashida said in Japanese during the bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

Japan and the Philippines are among the 45 countries which abstained in the United Nations General Assembly vote on the resolution calling for humanitarian truce in Gaza.

But the Japanese leader said that both parties should abide by the international law and that peace must be established in Gaza.

«We agreed that we condemn the terror attacks by Hamas and we express concerns about the situation of the hostages and the safety and security of the people,» said Kishida after the bilateral meeting.

«All parties should abide by international law and prevent spread of the situation to the surrounding countries and it is important to establish a peaceful situation in Gaza,» he added.

Bodies of two of the four fatalities were already brought home to the Philippines – 32-year-old Angelyn Aguirre and 49-year-old Loreta Alacre.

Marcos earlier said that the Israeli government promised that Filipinos in Gaza will be allowed to return home by Saturday at the latest.

More than 100 Filipinos have been repatriated since the attacks between the two parties escalated in October.