MISSILE ATTACK KILLS FILIPINA, ISRAELI HUSBAND, HIS PARENTS

A 29-year-old Filipina was killed along with her Israeli husband and his parents after a missile struck a residential building in Haifa on Sunday, underscoring the continued dangers faced by civilians amid the escalating hostilities in the Middle East.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) identified the victim as Lucille Jane Gershovich, who died alongside her husband, Dmitry Gershovich, 42, and his parents, Vladimir Gershovich, 73, and Lena Ostrovsky, 68.

The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv condemned the strike, blaming the Iranian regime for indiscriminately targeting civilians.

“Israel stands in profound solidarity with the bereaved family and the Filipino community, and shares in the grief over the loss of a Filipino life. We mourn together and honor their memory with dignity,” the embassy said.

The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines echoed the condemnation, describing the incident as a stark reminder of the risks faced by civilians, noting that the attack claimed the lives of an entire family inside their home.

Philippine embassy officials in Israel said Gershovich’s Filipino family has been informed and has requested privacy. The embassy is extending assistance, including facilitating the earliest repatriation of her remains despite logistical challenges.

Airspace closures in parts of the Middle East, particularly Kuwait and Bahrain, continue to complicate travel and evacuation efforts, according to the DFA.

Gershovich is the second Filipino casualty in the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, and the third since hostilities began in June last year.