Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega confirmed on Tuesday that there are roughly 30,500 Filipinos in Israel, and 95 percent of its population is not situated in conflict-affected areas.

In a press conference in Malacanang, along with Department of Migrant Workers Hans Leo Cacdac, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Arnell Ignacio, De Vega said that nobody from the Filipino community expressed a request for repatriation.

"Our kababayans are mostly in the north and nobody from there expressed that they want to be repatriated. Our kababayans are very resilient. They do not ask for repatriation but we are ready to bring them home," De Vega said.

He added that the situation in Gaza is different because there are Filipinos who want to be repatriated.

"In Gaza, the situation is different.  About 137 Filipinos— they are not OFWs— but they are Filipinas married to Palestinians, 38 [of them] asked to be repatriated," De Vega said.

De Vega stated that repatriation is still a challenge as airports and seaports were blocked by Hamas and the Egyptian Government.

"It is not the first time that there is no electricity— not the best condition. Some have asked for repatriations but [there is] no international airport, no seaport because of the blockade. There are exit points through Israel and Egypt but [these] are heavily guarded. Measures are being taken," De Vega added.

The Philippine Government agencies in Israel set up a 24/7 taskforce Israel help desk to assist the Israel-based Filipino communities.