President Marcos Jr. Announces Safe Evacuation of Filipinos from Gaza

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has reported the successful evacuation of at least 40 Filipinos from Gaza, marking a significant development amidst ongoing regional conflicts.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Office of the President, the Filipinos were able to exit the conflict-stricken Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt. The President delivered this update through a video message posted on his official Facebook page, expressing his gratitude towards the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the embassies of Israel, Jordan, and Egypt for ensuring the safe passage of Filipino nationals.

President Marcos underscored the efforts of the DFA in coordinating with the respective embassies to facilitate this movement. He noted that the Filipinos are now en route to Cairo and are expected to be repatriated to the Philippines in the forthcoming days. The President’s message relayed his happiness and relief over the successful crossing of the Rafah border by Filipino citizens.

Further appreciation was extended to the governments of Israel and Egypt for prioritizing the exit of Filipinos from their territories. The President also acknowledged the mediation efforts by Qatar, which contributed to the reopening of borders that allowed for this safe passage.

Amidst the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict, President Marcos Jr. expressed optimism that the remaining Filipinos awaiting departure would also be able to safely exit the area with their families. He assured that his office would continue to provide updates on the situation affecting Filipinos in the region.

The DFA had previously indicated that 46 Filipinos were given clearance to depart from Gaza through the Rafah border. This number includes individuals from a second batch and some from a first group whose departure had been delayed due to regional hostilities. According to Philippines News Agency, the latest figures from the DFA, there are still 135 Filipinos in Gaza, with six requesting repatriation.