The number of Filipinos who want to scramble out of war-torn Gaza has climbed, with only 19 still undecided on whether or not to dash to safety to Egypt via the newly opened Rafah crossing.
Of the 136 Filipinos in Gaza, 115 had expressed their intention to flee the Palestinian enclave being pounded on the air and ground by Israel to root out Hamas terrorists responsible for the 7 October massacre of 1,400 people.
On Wednesday, two Filipinos, on account of their being members of Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres), were among the personnel of international organizations who were allowed to cross into Egypt from Gaza.
"Only 19 Filipinos remain undecided, including the one Filipino nun," said Teresita Daza, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson. "This count does not include the two Filipino doctors from MSF who have crossed the Rafah border into Egypt."
Citing reports from Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos, Daza identified the two Filipinos as Dr. Darwin dela Cruz and Dr. Regidor Esguerra.
On Thursday, Egypt vowed to facilitate the exodus of at least 7,000 people from Gaza, with about 400 foreigners and those with dual nationalities expected to cross during the day.
"Four hundred people holding foreign passports are expected to cross today in addition to 60 wounded," an Egyptian official at the crossing told AFP, indicating the figures could fluctuate.
Safety assured
On the Palestinian side, Hisham Adwan, the Rafah crossing's Gaza director, said about 100 wounded people and 400 foreigners and dual nationals, including US citizens, were expected to cross during the day.
The Egyptian official said 361 foreigners and dual nationals had entered Egypt on Wednesday, slightly increasing the figure of 335 given a day earlier.
DFA officials assured the public on Thursday that they were working hard to ensure the safety and protection of Filipinos in the Middle East amid the ongoing escalation of tension in the region.
"At every opportunity, the department's men and women in the region have sought to ensure the safe evacuation of Filipinos out of the danger zones," the DFA said in a statement.
"It bears noting that Gaza remains under a total blockade, with the movement of people and goods severely curtailed, necessitating close coordination with the relevant foreign governments," it added.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo has written and met with officials from key countries to follow up and convey strong representations on behalf of Filipinos who remained stranded at the Rafah crossing, the DFA said.
It added that Manalo had written his Israeli and Egyptian counterparts to once again request that the necessary permits for the safe passage of Filipinos be given.
"The DFA remains committed to ensuring the protection of kababayans (countrymen) who are caught in this unfortunate situation," the DFA said.
27th day
The agency issued the statement amid social media comments that Dela Cruz and Esguerra were allowed to leave Gaza because they were Doctors Without Borders members, not because of representations made by Philippine officials.
The conflict in Gaza raged for the 27th day Thursday after Hamas militants attacked Israel on 7 October, killing 1,400 people and kidnapping more than 230 in the deadliest attack on Israel in recent history.
Since then, Israel has relentlessly bombarded the Palestinian territory and sent in ground troops as they seek to destroy Hamas.
Gaza's Hamas government said Thursday that 195 people had been killed in two days of Israeli strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp, the biggest in the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli army said Thursday its forces had killed "dozens" of Palestinian militants in overnight battles in the northern Gaza Strip.
