Manila – The Philippines government is actively engaging in diplomatic negotiations with Egyptian authorities in an effort to facilitate the safe exit of Filipino nationals through the Rafah border crossing, as conditions continue to deteriorate in the Gaza Strip. The government expresses hope that the border will open within this week to allow for the safe passage of its citizens.
According to Philippines News Agency, during an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Wednesday, there are 57 Filipinos currently waiting in proximity to the Rafah border, all of whom are prepared to leave as soon as the border opens. “They are ready to cross the border once it opens. The others are in other parts of southern Gaza but they are a few minutes away and are also prepared,” de Vega stated.
The undersecretary also expressed optimism about the potential border opening, saying, “There’s a possibility, I’m going to say it now, hopefully this weekend they would be able to exit.” To this point, the Rafah border crossing has remained closed, with the exception of allowing humanitarian aid to enter from Egypt.
De Vega shared that he has received positive indications that Egypt might begin to allow people to exit the Gaza Strip, starting with wounded Palestinians who currently lack access to medical care within the region. “This is why our ambassador in Cairo, Ambassador Ezzedin Tago, is coordinating with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the opening of the crossing, including for Filipinos,” he added.
The situation in the Gaza Strip has been described as dire, with acute shortages of essential supplies, particularly food and water. Filipinos in the region began moving towards the southern part of Gaza two weeks prior, following evacuation advice from Israel due to an impending ground operation against Hamas in response to an Oct. 7 attack. This attack resulted in 1,400 casualties, including four Filipinos, in Israel. De Vega noted that there were complications during the evacuation process, resulting in inadequate supply provisions for those awaiting border crossing.
In a related development, two Filipinos who went missing in Israel and are suspected to have been kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 remain unaccounted for. “We still don't have an update on them but they are possibly among the more than 200 hostages in Gaza because they have not been found in Israel,” de Vega commented.