The situation in Israel remains “manageable” for the about 30,000 Filipinos there despite the country’s ongoing war with Iran, Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola said on Thursday.
“If you are here in Israel, it’s different from probably what is happening in Tehran,” Mendiola said in an interview on the Daily Tribune digital show Usapang OFW. “You have to be here to appreciate the thinking of the community. I know what reaches the media pages is not the day-to-day happenings that our kababayan here are seeing,” she added.
Supermarkets and shops remain open, and life, she said, goes on — unlike in Tehran, where reports describe long queues of cars fleeing the capital.
“What the media picks up are burning buildings, charred vehicles. But here, you will see people paddle boarding, kayaking on beaches, and playing volleyball and basketball,” she said, noting that many Filipinos in Israel — some of whom have lived there for decades — are already accustomed to the persistent security threats.
Yet, Mendiola said, there’s no room for complacency, and it is but natural for families in the Philippines to always be worried about the safety of their relatives abroad.
“But we don’t have to be complacent. To our kababayan in the Philippines, in your phone calls, aside from finding out their situations, ask them how their daily lives are so that you will appreciate what life is like here,” she said.
She explained that Filipinos take shelter in bombproof rooms reinforced with thick steel walls during attacks. “What we advise the community is to always choose to be safe,” she added.
Seven Filipinos have been injured in the ongoing conflict, with five already discharged from the hospital.
One remains in moderately critical condition and may experience impaired mobility, while the other is in critical condition after surgery for a dislocated lung. A second operation is scheduled.
Mendiola said all medical expenses are shouldered by the Israeli government, with the injured Filipinos receiving medical care in some of the best healthcare facilities.
She said a relative of one of the injured Filipinos asked an Israeli doctor how much their bill would be. “Don’t worry about it,” the doctor responded, according to the ambassador.
Mendiola said the Philippine embassy has helped stranded Filipino tourists and students cross the border.
“It’s a good way to test for when bigger repatriation efforts will be needed,” she said, adding that repatriation signups remain open via the Embassy’s Facebook page.
A batch of 26 Filipinos is set to be repatriated soon. “The decision to be repatriated remains with our kababayan,” she noted.
She said the less than 200 who have asked to be repatriated should illustrate the general feeling among Filipinos that they remain relatively safe in Israel.
Mendiola said the big discrepancy in the pay of Filipinos in Israel compared to those in the Philippines is another big factor why many choose to stay.
Israel’s outgoing envoy to Manila, Ambassador Ilan Fluss, has maintained that the benefits due Israeli nationals and foreigners are the same when they fall victim to the effects of war.
Israel and Iran exchanged heavy fire on Thursday, marking the seventh day of the conflict.
A hospital in Beersheba suffered a direct hit, according to the Israeli foreign ministry, with local officials confirming extensive damage. At least 47 people were injured, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service.
Israel’s military said it targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, including an “inactive nuclear reactor” in Arak and again struck the Natanz site. Internet access across Iran was severely disrupted for over 12 hours, reportedly due to Israel’s cyber operations.
Iranian media reported that Israeli hackers briefly took control of state TV broadcasts, showing footage of women-led protests and urging viewers to demonstrate.
US President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that Iran is seeking negotiations to end the conflict.
“I may do it, I may not do it,” Trump said, referring to the possibility of the US joining Israeli strikes. “Iran’s got a lot of trouble, and they want to negotiate.”
He claimed Iranian officials expressed willingness to send representatives to the White House, an assertion Iran has denied. Asked if diplomacy was still possible, Trump replied, “Nothing is too late.”