Shun mass protests in Egypt
‘The Philippine Embassy in Cairo advises everyone to exercise caution, keep away from mass congregations, and stay home unless necessary.’
Daily Tribune‘The Philippine Embassy in Cairo advises everyone to exercise caution, keep away from mass congregations, and stay home unless necessary.’
Philippines ready President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (4th from right) highlights the country’s economic opportunities and partnerships in a meeting with Saudi Arabia business leaders on Friday. He expressed the Philippines’ commitment to fostering stronger economic ties with countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PCO
Filipinos in Egypt have been advised to avoid joining any protests following the mass demonstrations, denouncing the bombing of a hospital in the Gaza Strip that reportedly killed at least 500 civilians.
In an advisory, the Philippine Embassy in Egypt cautioned Filipinos against joining the random demonstrations and planned mass actions.
"The Philippine Embassy in Cairo advises everyone to exercise caution, keep away from mass congregations, and stay home unless necessary," it said.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, there are 1,990 Filipinos in Egypt.
Egyptians took to the streets to express their anger over the bombing of the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza, which left hundreds of Palestinians dead.
In one of the demonstrations, a Palestinian flag was raised while an Israeli flag was burned.
The demonstrations came after Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi called on Egyptians to express solidarity with the Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war.
This developed as top diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Friday denounced the ongoing war in the Middle East.
End bloodshed
In a statement, the foreign ministers of the 10-member regional bloc called for an immediate end to the bloodshed.
"We strongly condemn the acts of violence which have led to the deaths and injuries of civilians, including ASEAN nationals," the foreign ministers said.
"We urge the immediate end of violence to avoid further human casualties and call for the full respect of international humanitarian law," it added.
Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas are engaged in armed conflict following the surprise attack launched by the terror group on Israel last 7 October.
The attack by Hamas has left more than 1,400 dead, most of them massacred on the first day of the assault.
Meanwhile, the widespread airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have reportedly left at least 3,478 dead.
ASEAN also called on "all parties to create safe, rapid and unimpeded passages of human corridors."
Last week, Israel imposed a 24-hour deadline for 1.1 million civilians to evacuate northern Gaza ahead of its ground offensive in the Palestinian territory.
Since then, millions of civilians, including foreign nationals, have scrambled to move from northern Gaza to southern Gaza in hopes of exiting the war-torn territory.
The bulk of civilians are swarming to the Rafah border in an attempt to enter Egypt despite the border remaining closed and the restricted availability of food, water and electricity.
Two-state solution
Meanwhile, ASEAN reaffirmed its support for a "negotiated two-state solution that allows Israelis and Palestinians to live side-by-side in peace and security consistent with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions."
"This will be the only viable path to resolving the root cause of the conflict," it said.
The regional bloc also called on the "international community to support the peace process in order to ensure long-lasting peace and stability in the region."
"We have issued our respective national statements on the escalation of armed conflicts in the Middle East," it said.
On Wednesday, the Philippines, one of the founding members of ASEAN, expressed its "profound sadness" over the bombing of a hospital in the Gaza Strip, which reportedly killed at least 500 civilians.
Israel and Hamas denied being behind the attack and blamed each other for the bombing.
The Philippines said all parties should "do their utmost to protect civilians in times of war and armed conflict."
"We support efforts of the United Nations to provide humanitarian relief in the conflict areas," it said.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, there are 135 Filipinos in the Hamas-controlled Gaza.
Deep concern
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is attending the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, the Chief Executive expressed deep concern over the rising number of victims and the safety of those affected by the conflict.
In his intervention during the 1st ASEAN-GCC Summit here on Friday, Marcos said, "All parties (should) exert their utmost efforts to de-escalate the situation, stop all violence, and engage in dialogue and diplomacy."
He called on the members of the GCC and ASEAN to work together to promote peace, security, and stability in the South China Sea and the Arabian Sea.
Marcos also underscored the importance of cooperation between member countries of the two regional groups to ensure their continued prosperity.
"As the two regional organizations located astride the major sea gates and vital corridors of the world's commerce and communications, it is imperative that we work together to promote peace, security, and stability in both our regions, the South China Sea and the Arabian Sea, grounded on the rules-based international order to ensure the stability and prosperity of our countries and the rest of the world," Marcos said.
"Peace and stability are indispensable to ensuring continued prosperity in our respective regions and the world," he added.
The six GCC member countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while the 10 ASEAN member countries are Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
President Marcos attended the ASEAN-GCC Summit, where he discussed business opportunities in the Philippines and urged investors to invest in the Maharlika Investment Fund, among other significant opportunities in the Philippines.
