President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday condemned the death of several Filipino citizens amid the growing tensions between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Marcos made this statement following the confirmation by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo that several Filipinos had lost their lives in the ongoing Israeli conflict.

"My heart is heavy upon hearing confirmation of the deaths of two Filipinos in Israel. The Philippines condemns these killings and stands firmly against the ongoing terror and violence," Marcos said in a statement.

Marcos underscored that the Philippine government will stand firm in its dedication to achieving enduring peace following United Nations resolutions and global legal principles.

Marcos also emphasized that the Philippine government will not cease sending support to affected overseas Filipino workers and the Filipino community affected by the ongoing conflict between the Israeli forces and Hamas.

During the Malacañang Press Briefing, the Philippine Embassy in Israel said that the two people who died were killed in the Kibbutz on the first day of the attack. Their families asked that their names and the details of their deaths not be made public.

The Embassy said that the two people who died were a woman from Pangasinan who was 33 years old and had been working in Israel for six years and a man from Pampanga who was 42 years old.

Embassy verifying 3rd casualty

While officials initially said that two Filipinos died in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the Philippine Embassy said it is currently trying to verify the potential occurrence of a third Filipino casualty in the attacks through DNA testing.

Vice Consul Patricia Narajos said in Malacañang that the embassy received a report about another Filipino who might have died amid the conflict.

"This is subject to confirmation by DNA evidence," she said.

Narajos also said that a Filipino shot in the arm is "recovering well" in the hospital. Another Filipino was helped for breathing in smoke but was later sent home.

Marcos had previously instructed the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to actively locate and verify the status of all overseas Filipino workers  and their families in Israel.

Furthermore, he directed all agencies responsible for safeguarding the well-being of OFWs and the Filipino community to closely collaborate with the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Migrant Workers Office in Israel to ensure their safety.