Five Filipinos from the West Bank, amidst escalating tensions in the Israel-Hamas conflict, are scheduled to return to the Philippines on Thursday, as per the announcement by the Philippine Embassy in Amman. The group successfully crossed the King Hussein Bridge, a key border point between the West Bank and Jordan, on Nov. 22 and are expected to arrive in the Philippines on Nov. 24. The Philippine government facilitated their safe passage by providing transportation from their residences in the West Bank to the Allenby border crossing on the Israeli side.
According to Philippines News Agency, Embassy officers and personnel were on hand to assist the Filipinos through the complex border crossing procedures at the King Hussein Bridge. During this operation, Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos met with Col. Rafat Al Maietah, the head of the King Hussein Border Authority, to discuss arrangements for the potential crossing of more Filipinos should the situation in the area escalate further. The return comes amid heightened tensions in the West Bank following an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip, triggered by a Hamas attack on Israel last month. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry reporting over 200 Palestinian deaths and thousands injured since early October.