No Pinoy will be left behind — DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs, or DFA, has vowed to lead the 39 Filipinos remaining in the war zone in the Gaza Strip to a safe zone while the turmoil between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas rages.

The number of Filipinos who have exited the conflict-stricken territory has reached 98 as a third batch, consisting of 14 Filipinos and their Palestinian family members, crossed the Rafah border and entered Egyptian territory on 10 November, according to Philippine Ambassador to Israel Ezzedin Tago.

DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega told Daily Tribune that while nearly 100 Filipinos have been extracted from Hamas-run Gaza, he said "more are expected to cross in the next few days."

"We are convincing them (39 Pinoys) to leave (Gaza.) We are ready to pick them up. Another 98 have already left," De Vega said in a text message. 

De Vega said the migrants in Gaza refrained from being repatriated unless they were allowed to take their Palestinian spouses.

Nun to leave last

"All Filipinos can leave. It is just that some do not want to leave their Palestinian spouses who did not get a security clearance," De Vega said.

Israel agreed to a humanitarian corridor, and more Filipinos are proceeding safely to the border, including two from Gaza City, according to De Vega.

"After them, the only one remaining in Gaza City is the nun," he added.

"The embassy team on the Egyptian side of the border, led by Vice Consul Bojer Capati, assisted the Filipinos and facilitated their entry to Egypt in coordination with Egyptian border authorities and the Philippine embassies in Amman, Jordan, and Tel Aviv, Israel," Ambassador Tago said. 

With Lade Jean Kabagani and Gilmore LeaÑo