Filipinos in Gaza Strip and Israel who are in need of assistance can seek help from the rapid response teams deployed by the government on November 18, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

According to del Rosario, the teams were deployed to Cairo, Egypt and Tel Aviv, Israel. They are tasked to assist in the possible evacuation of Filipinos caught in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and southern Israel.

“In the event that the situation in the affected areas escalates, I have instructed our Embassies in Cairo and in Tel Aviv to be ready to provide the necessary and appropriate assistance to our nationals there and to make representations with the governments of Israel and Egypt in case there is a need to facilitate safe transit of our nationals through their respective territories,” he said.

“The Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) will be on standby to aid in the repatriation of our nationals, if it becomes necessary,” he added.

Official estimates put the number of Filipinos in Gaza at 100, most of whom are married to Palestinians. Filipinos in Israel number around 41,000, most of whom are employed as caregivers.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv reported that Filipinos in Israel are relatively safe, owing to the existence of numerous bomb shelters throughout the country. 

Filipinos who have relatives in Gaza and southern Israel may provide information on their next-of-kin’s current location and contact details by calling the DFA Action Center 24-hour hotline, (02)834-3333 or the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) at (02)834-4996 (office hours only). *