President Marcos has expressed grave concern over the ongoing crisis in Gaza marked by sustained attacks from Israel, describing the humanitarian cost of the conflict as “unacceptable”.
Marcos likewise deplored Israel’s plan to fully take control of Gaza.
Reports had it that under a new plan approved by the security Cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli military intends to take total control of Gaza City.
Hamas denounced Israel’s plan to escalate the fighting, describing it as a “new war crime”.
In an interview with Indian media Firstpost last Aug. 6, the President noted that the situation in Gaza was “deteriorating” due to mounting deaths and starvation.
“I don’t know what they say in Israel, but everywhere else I think it is unanimous that the humanitarian cost of the continued attacks on Gaza is unacceptable,” said Marcos in the interview during his state visit in India.
“The death, the destruction, and now the starvation that is occurring, they should not be happening in this day and age. We should not allow this,” the Chief Executive said.
He added that Israel should be pressured to allow aid to enter Gaza.
“But what can one do unless we go in there and forcibly – nobody wants to do that either. So it is a very, very difficult situation. And it is really — I was watching the news earlier, and President [Donald] Trump said it’s up to Israel,” the Philippine leader said.
“It has to be them to decide. We can put pressure on them. We can have resolutions in the United Nations,” Marcos said.
The Philippines joined last June 148 countries voted in favor of a UN resolution demanding “immediate, unconditional, and permanent” ceasefire of the war in Gaza.
The resolution also condemned the use of starvation and the denial of aid as an instrument of war, and demanded that Israel immediately lift its blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of international aid into the city.
Marcos also said political will could have done more to resolve the conflict. He also broached the idea for the United States to apply more pressure on Israel.
“Maybe the United States could exercise a stronger hand in influencing the Israeli leadership to recognize the humanitarian cost,” Marcos noted.
“But again, at the end of the day, well, if the United States stops sending weapons, then perhaps that would be a big diminution in terms of attacks. But short of that, I can see the frustration of the European countries. That’s why they’re starting to talk about recognizing a Palestinian state,” he added.
Marcos also underscored the need to boost peace initiatives amid the escalating geopolitical tensions.
“Certainly, from the part of the Philippines, again, of course we are your allies, but we are always for peace. Even our own situation with the West Philippine Sea, with the South China Sea, we don’t talk about the forces against this and attacking that. We talk about peace, and that’s what we push,” he pointed out.
“And I thought, you know, this is 2025. I thought humanity had learned its lesson already. Unfortunately, I was wrong,” he admitted.
