The Philippines has raised the alert level to 3 in both Israel and Iran amid escalating tensions between the two Middle Eastern countries.

In a text message to DAILY TRIBUNE, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Eduardo de Vega confirmed that the Philippine government raised the alert level for both countries.

“Yes, for both countries,” De Vega said. Alert level 3 means the government may carry out voluntary repatriations of Filipinos in both countries.

According to the DFA, there are 30,742 Filipinos in Israel; 1,180 Filipinos in Iran; and 1,598 Filipinos in Iraq.

Israel was previously placed under Alert Level 2 following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack, which killed more than 1,200 people in Israel.

That attack triggered the ongoing Gaza war, which has since resulted in the deaths of more than 55,600 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The war has also displaced nearly the entire population of over two million Gazans and sparked a growing hunger crisis in the Palestinian enclave.

21 officials on their way home

In a related development, Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos reported that the 21 Philippine government officials evacuated to Jordan from Israel are now bound for Manila.

The stranded officials, who were attending a training in agricultural technology in Israel, departed Jordan on Thursday night.

“They took their return flight to the Philippines, we brought them to the airport, helped them check in, and we sent them off,” he said in a radio interview.

Three of the government officials include three town mayors from Eastern Visayas namely Lawaan, Eastern Samar Mayor Athene Mendros, Barugo, Leyte Mayor Aron Balais and Hindang, Leyte Mayor Betty Cabal.

They had arrived in Tel Aviv on 10 June and were originally scheduled to return to Manila on 20 June.

Santos added that three of four stranded Filipino tourists in Israel had also been repatriated after successfully crossing the Israel–Jordan border.

Additionally, the embassy is facilitating the return of two overseas Filipino workers who are awaiting available flights back to the Philippines.

“They’re just waiting for return flights. Not all flights are available right now,” Santos explained.

“Despite the reopening of airspace, not all airlines are providing services at the moment,” he added.