MANILA – One of the seven Filipinos reported missing in Israel has been found safe, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Tuesday.
“The Embassy confirms that one more of the missing Filipino nationals has been accounted for, a female found in a safe area,” DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said in a statement.
The development reduces the number of missing Filipinos to six -- two males and four females.
“Coordinating with Israeli authorities and local contacts, the Embassy is exhausting all available means to ascertain the condition of the still missing Filipinos,” she said.
To date, 23 Filipinos (one male, 22 females) have now been found or rescued and taken to safe areas, out of the 29 initially reported missing.
The male sustained slight injuries during the rescue operation and is being treated in a hospital.
The Philippine Embassy in Israel is also looking into reports of the likely death of one Filipino woman who was earlier reported missing in one of the attacked kibbutzim (agricultural settlement area).
The DFA assured that Embassy’s labor attaché and welfare officers are on the ground to assist the sister of the woman in confirming the report with the Israeli police.
‘Alert Level 1’
Israel, meanwhile, will remain under Alert Level 1 or precautionary phase, the Embassy said in a separate advisory Tuesday.
“Based on the assessment of the Israeli government, security authorities, and realities on the ground, the Philippine Embassy in Israel recommends that Alert Level 1 be maintained,” Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo Jr. said.
The envoy said the situation in Israel remains tense in certain areas but security forces have regained control of some affected areas in the south as of Oct. 9.
“Despite continued rocket attacks from Gaza, the areas hit are mostly located near the Gaza border,” he said. “At present, there is no prohibition on movement here in Israel, except in specific areas of conflict (within the vicinity of the Gaza border).”
The Ben Gurion Airport in the city of Lod remains open but only 50 percent of air carriers are currently flying to and from Israel.
"The Israeli government maintains that repatriation is not necessary at the moment, and constantly assures the international community that during emergency situations, the Israel Defense Forces and the Home Front Command have established protocols for evacuating not only its nationals, but anyone in Israel regardless of nationality,” Laylo said. (PNA)
