Horrific scenes and narratives fill our daily news with the ongoing onslaught in Israel, which was attacked by militant group Hamas. As the days go by, more stories surface depicting the merciless carnage that has made no distinction between men, women, and children. I cannot understand how armed men can gun down and toss grenades to murder innocent children.

I cannot say that the Israel-Hamas conflict does not affect the Philippines. An estimated 30,000 Filipinos live and work in Israel, and some reportedly in the Gaza Strip and other Palestinian territories. So far, two Filipinos are known to have been killed, while the death of a third is being verified.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was photographed on social media, making two tough phone calls to inform the families of the two deceased about their untimely deaths. Our President will probably make more phone calls.

Another effect of this violence is that it may inspire other militant groups to do the same. We recall how the prolific and publicized ISIS attacks a few years back may have sparked similar violence in other countries, including the Philippines. In 2017, Marawi City in Mindanao was overrun by ISIS militants who started an urban war that killed over 1,000 insurgents and 47 civilians.

The Marawi Siege, as we call it now, successfully showcased the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, but it also caused epic damage that is costing the government billions to rebuild.

President Rodrigo Duterte should be applauded for his decisiveness and strong leadership in what might have been his first tough challenge as president. Sadly, Marawi remains a ghost town to this day. The government can rebuild, but given how superstitious Filipinos can be, it may be hard to convince folks to return to a war-torn city.

With the gravity of the violence inflicted in Israel, we can assume that this will continue for months, if not years. This early, Israelites are speaking of revenge against Palestinians, which can become a vicious cycle that will never end. The United Nations and other international organizations may condemn these events, but nothing can stand in the way of a father who lost his innocent child.

Another possibility is that the Israel-Hamas conflict may ripple over to nearby countries, considering the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war. Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a statement blaming the United States for failing to control the situation through its public support of Israel. This effectively pushed Palestine to the wall and led Hamas to inflict tremendous violence on Israel.