The Israeli government has given notice to nations to be prepared for the possible opening of the Egyptian border crossing from war-torn Gaza, where many foreign nationals—including 131 Filipinos–are hoping to exit, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.
However, it was not yet clear who would initiate the opening of a humanitarian corridor as both Egypt and Israel seemed to be passing on the responsibility to each other.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said that Egypt expressed willingness to open its border with Gaza for those seeking to be repatriated from Gaza, but this would depend on the Israeli government if it would allow them to cross.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Major Libi Weiss, told Philippine reporters on Tuesday that it was Egypt that holds the key to any possible crossing from Gaza.
Nonetheless, De Vega said, Israel informed other countries to be prepared for the opening of the border as it could open “suddenly.”
“We hope [that will happen] as soon as possible,” De Vega said, in a press conference.
The DFA also said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is coming out with a joint statement that will likely condemn the ongoing violence happening in both Israel and the Gaza Strip this week.
Varying national statements have been issued by ASEAN’s member states but the regional bloc has yet to issue a united position on the Oct. 7 Hamas attack against Israel and its ensuing retaliatory strikes on the militants in southern Gaza, the DFA said.
“It is a statement and the draft is still moving but (on) the condemnation issue it will be limited to the terrorism and violence on both sides,” DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro told reporters in a briefing in Pasay.
Lazaro said Indonesia initiated the call for a joint statement in its capacity as ASEAN chair.
ASEAN’s previous position over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had been consistent, with the bloc supporting the two-state solution.
But the statement will come following the reported strike on al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City that killed hundreds of civilians on Tuesday.
De Vega said Philippine embassy officials in Egypt are prepared to assist the dozens of Filipinos, who are now already waiting near the border.
Despite the recent attacks purportedly perpetrated by Israel on the southern part of Gaza, where the Egyptian border is located, Filipinos remain safe, De Vega said.
He said he was confident that Israel would protect Filipinos and all other civilians from any harm as its offensives against Hamas continue.
The first batch of repatriated Filipino workers from Israel arrived safely in Manila on Wednesday.
The group of 16 caregivers and hotel workers from southern Israel arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport via Etihad Airlines.
Officials from the departments of Migrant Workers, Foreign Affairs, Social Welfare and Development, and Health, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) welcomed them upon their arrival at the airport.
Before they arrived in Manila, Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Alfonso Ferdinand Ver met the group, which included a one-month-old infant, as they transited through Abu Dhabi International Airport on their way home from Israel.
Labor Attaché Rodolfo Gabasan of the Migrant Workers Office in Tel-Aviv, Vice-Consul Patricia Narajos, and Welfare Officer Dina Ponciano also escorted the group at Ben Gurion International Airport where they boarded their return flight to the Philippines.
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Leo Cacdac said more Filipinos would be repatriated, but he did not say when they would depart from Tel Aviv.
While 78 Filipinos are currently at the Rafah crossing in war-torn Gaza, 137 Filipinos who are married to Palestinian spouses are still awaiting instructions on when they can return to the Philippines.
Senator Raffy Tulfo, chairman of the committee on migrant workers, and other lawmakers were also among the government officials who assisted the Filipino workers upon their arrival at the airport.
Israeli and Egyptian authorities worked 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.
The Philippines got in touch with Egyptian authorities to work out an arrangement that would allow the Filipinos to cross into Egypt.
All 137 Filipinos in Gaza were safe, with 78 of them at the Rafah border, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.