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Escape from Gaza, Egypt Oks crossing
By Nidz Godino
"We're talking to them, Egyptian authorities not only to open border but also to give permission to Filipinos," Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for migrant workers affairs Eduardo de Vega told media Egyptian authorities have agreed to allow Filipinos from Gaza to cross into Egypt through Rafah border once it opens.
Names of Filipinos in Gaza, including 78 now situated near Rafah border, have been submitted to Egyptian authorities.
"They need visas… permission in case it opens, they can get through…it doesn't mean automatic when it opens border… will be in immigration processing on Egyptian side, all names of Filipinos in Gaza are already with Egyptian authorities" De Vega said.
Names of 20 Palestinian spouses were also submitted but there is no assurance they would be allowed in.
"DFA is hopeful for solution to be reached soonest in order for Rafah crossing to start receiving foreign nationals, so that our kababayans in Gaza will be allowed to cross into Egypt…from there, our teams will work on their repatriation to Philippines, Philippine government continues to work on repatriation of our nationals and will provide updates on developments," DFA said in statement.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), for its part, said returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel would be getting P10,000 in cash assistance upon their arrival at the airport.
OWWA chief Arnell Ignacio also assured Filipinos in Gaza of prompt government help should they opt to return to the country once humanitarian passage becomes available.
"Immediately, we'll give them financial assistance upon their arrival because we know they have no money for their needs, just matter of scheduling flights," Ignacio said at briefing.
DFA is in charge of repatriation of Filipinos from Gaza since most of them are spouses of Palestinians and not OFWs, Ignacio said. There are 138 Filipinos staying in Gaza, now under alert level 4 or mandatory repatriation.
Aside from P10,000 financial grant, Ignacio said, active and non-active OWWA members returning from Israel can avail themselves of wide range of assistance from government.
He said returning OFWs may opt for livelihood support as well as help in preparing business plans in case they choose to stay for good and set up their own business.
Furthermore, government is also extending loans to those who want to start business. Scholarship is also available for returning OFWs whose children are still studying.
According to Ignacio, OWWA has assisted in repatriation of 15 OFWs staying in Israel but not affected by ongoing conflict.
He said government has not stopped search for three Filipinos in Israel still unaccounted for.
Government, he added, is also working for repatriation of remains of three Filipinos killed during Hamas attack. Repatriation of remains may take longer than usual because of current situation in Israel.
On Sunday President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.made another phone call to family of one of the Filipino fatalities in Israel Loreta Villarin Alacre to relay his condolences and assure them of assistance, including repatriation of her remains, Presidential Communications Office said.
Annabella Alacre, elder sister of Loreta, disclosed that FMJ called Nelia, another sister of theirs working in Kuwait, also as contract worker.
Nelia, according to Annabella, requested FMJ to facilitate her return to the Philippines, as she had not seen her sister for years. The President granted her request.
Exact date of arrival of remains of Loreta, however, is not yet clear as her birth certificate is reportedly still being processed. OWWA needs document for transfer of her cadaver from Israel to Philippines.
"There's assistance for family but we will do everything needs to be done to bring your sister home," FMJ was quoted as telling Nelia during their conversation.
He added Philippine authorities are closely monitoring situation in Israel.
"All our embassies are on alert, they know your situation, everyone wants to go home so that's what we arranged first and as long as we are given chance, we will bring them all home," Chief Executive said.
FMJ said Philippine ambassador to Egypt is now waiting for feedback on possible opening of humanitarian corridor so government can start with repatriation efforts.
FMJ said airport in Tel Aviv, Israel is still open but is not yet allowing refugees.
He said Philippine government is coordinating with Israel for repatriation of affected Filipinos.
FMJ had already talked to families of two other victims and assured them of all government assistance and repatriation of their remains as soon as borders are opened for refugees.
Israeli forces kept up their bombardment of Gaza after diplomatic efforts to arrange ceasefire to allow foreign passport holders to leave and aid to be brought into besieged Palestinian enclave failed.
Residents of Hamas-ruled Gaza said overnight air strikes were heaviest yet as conflict entered its 10th day with Israeli ground offensive believed to be imminent. Bombing carried on through the day, they said, and many buildings were flattened, trapping yet more people under rubble. Israeli officials issued multiple warnings of Hamas rocket fire into Israel.
Diplomatic efforts have been underway to get aid into enclave, endured unrelenting Israeli bombing since Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants killed 1,300 people bloodiest single day in state's 75-year history.
But Israel's chief military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said there was no Gaza ceasefire and that Israel was continuing its operations. "There are no such efforts under way at this time….if anything changes we will inform public…we are continuing our fight against Hamas, this murderous organization carried this assault out."
Israel has imposed full blockade and is preparing ground invasion to enter Gaza and destroy Hamas, continued to fire rockets at Israel since its brief cross-border assault.
Earlier Egyptian security sources had told media agreement had been reached to open crossing to allow aid into enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in statement: "There is currently no truce and humanitarian aid in Gaza in exchange for getting foreigners out." Hamas official Izzat El Reshiq told media there was "no truth" to reports about crossing opening or temporary ceasefire.
On Monday, rocket-warning sirens sounded in several towns in southern Israel, Israeli military said. Israeli troops and tanks are already massed on border.
Hundreds of tons of aid from several countries have been held up in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula for days pending deal for its safe delivery to Gaza and evacuation of some foreign passport holders through Rafah crossing.
US President Joseph Biden has urged Israel to follow laws of war in its response to Hamas attacks, and on Sunday said in post on social media " overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas' appalling attacks and are suffering as result of them."
Biden also said Israel needed to eliminate Hamas, but warned it would be mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza.
Citing a security source, media reported crossing would open for few hours on Monday, without providing details. Media was not immediately able to confirm either report. Israel has urged exhausted Gazans to evacuate south, which hundreds of thousands have already done in besieged enclave home to more than two million people.
Hamas, runs Gaza, has told people to ignore Israel's message. "Hamas has always said there is no surrender, there is only freedom and justice," militant group said in statement.
Palestinians in Gaza said Israel's bombing campaign overnight was heaviest since it launched its retaliatory attacks last week. Bombardment was especially heavy in Gaza City, with air strikes hitting areas around two of city's main hospitals, they said. Reserves of fuel at all hospitals across Gaza Strip are expected to last only around 24 more hours, putting thousands of patients at risk, United Nations humanitarian office said.
Authorities in Gaza said at least 2,670 people had so far been killed by Israel's retaliatory strikes, quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded. Another 1,000 people were missing and believed to be under rubble. US government help alleviate humanitarian crisis in Gaza, anticipating brutal ground offensive.
Washington is also focused on avoiding spillover of conflict, especially with clashes with Lebanon escalating on Israel's border.
Blinken said leaders in Arab states he visited across the region in recent days were determined to stop war from spreading. He is also seeking to secure release of 155 hostages, including Americans, Israel says were taken by Hamas back into Gaza. Iran, which backs both Hamas and Hezbollah, warned Israel of escalation if it kept attacking Palestinians, adding could not stay an observer.
Netanyahu has convened Israel's expanded emergency Cabinet, including former opposition lawmakers, in show of unity. "Hamas thought we would be demolished…it is we who will demolish Hamas," he said.
Israel's military, which has massed tanks on Gaza's border in preparation for ground offensive, is targeting Hamas and its infrastructure in response. Israeli aircraft struck about 250 military targets, killing Hamas southern district commander, military said.
Israeli military chief Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi told soldiers near Gaza border they would be entering Gaza to root out Hamas, targeting "every place, every commander, every operator."
An Israeli blockade has prevented fuel, food and water from entering Gaza, although Netanyahu had agreed with Biden to resume water supply to parts of southern Gaza, minister said.
Israeli military said some 600,000 Gazans had left northern half of territory, includes Gaza City's more than one million residents. Some Palestinians who went south were heading back north because they were attacked wherever they went.
Israeli aircraft bombed areas around Gaza City's Al-Quds hospital, and ambulances at the facility could not move due to strikes, Palestinian media reported.
Israel gave hospital warning to evacuate, according to Palestinian Red Crescent Society,it could not move sick and wounded people out of facility.
UN relief operations in Gaza "are on verge of collapse," said Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of UN agency for Palestinians.
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