The Philippine government is working to repatriate 92 Filipinos from Gaza as the region remains tense after a recent escalation in violence, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said that the government is in contact with the Filipinos in Gaza and that they have expressed interest in leaving the region.

"Out of the 131, up to 92 now are asking for repatriation, as of several hours ago. By now, the figures might have gone up already. That's over 70 percent," de Vega said.

On the other hand, De Vega said some 22 Filipinos in Israel have requested repatriation not because of the Israel-Hamas conflict but mainly due to "economic reasons."

"As for our kababayan in Israel, there are already some who have indicated that they want to go home – not because they were victimized by the war specifically but because indirectly, they lost a job or times are hard for them — for economic reasons aggravated by this conflict," he said.

He said the repatriation of around 300 Filipino agriculture students in Israel started with the first batch of around 60 students who arrived in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the first eight Filipino workers will fly to Manila on 16 October. The Department of Migrant Workers will shoulder their return home.

De Vega said that the eight would get help and go through the government's normal rehabilitation programs.

The DFA official said that the government is prepared to help the families of the Filipinos who will be repatriated, including providing financial assistance.

De Vega said the Philippine government is working with the Israeli and Egyptian governments to secure a humanitarian corridor for the Filipinos to exit Gaza and enter Egypt.

The Philippine government is also working with other countries, through the ASEAN, to assist Filipinos who want to leave the West Bank. Indonesia, for example, has offered to help Filipinos who want to leave the West Bank.

De Vega said that the Filipinos in Gaza are "very resilient" and are prepared to leave the territory once a humanitarian corridor is opened.

"They are very resilient. If they are told, meet here, they will; or if they're told, just show up at the border at this time, they will," De Vega said.

Alert Level 2 is currently in place in Israel, while Alert Level 3 – or voluntary repatriation – has been raised in Gaza.

"Right now the situation in Israel is more stable, so our efforts are now concentrated on Gaza," the Foreign Affairs official said.

"In the President's words, what's critical now is Gaza and let's keep exploring all possible exit options," he added.

Another thing that could make it hard for Filipinos in Gaza to go back home is the nationality of their children and grandchildren.

"You see, the spouses of the Filipinos are Palestinians. We cannot guarantee what Israel or Egypt will decide. So it may be a difficult decision," De Vega said.

Hamas' attack on Israel's communities on Saturday killed thousands of people; the group also took hundreds of captives to Gaza. Israel has responded with air attacks that have leveled entire Gaza districts in preparation for a ground offensive.