President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and other Philippine authorities for their efforts in ensuring the safe exit of 40 Filipinos from Gaza to Egypt via the Rafah Crossing.
In a video message, Marcos assured the nation that these Filipinos would be repatriated in the coming days, despite the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
He also extended his gratitude to the governments of Israel and Egypt for prioritizing the safety and well-being of the Filipino citizens, allowing them to leave their respective territories.
Marcos acknowledged the mediation efforts of Qatar, which played a crucial role in reopening the borders of these countries.
Marcos further assured that the remaining Filipinos who are still awaiting permission to cross the Rafah Crossing would soon be granted passage.
According to reports from Unang Balita, the Filipinos, accompanied by Philippine Embassy officials led by Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago, were already on their way to Cairo.
They made a stopover in el-Arish, Egypt, approximately 30 kilometers away from the Gaza border, to have a meal. The group consisted of six families and was divided into two buses.
In mid-October, the Philippines raised Alert Level 4 in Gaza City, making the evacuation of Filipinos a mandatory procedure to ensure their safety.
Source: PhilNews24 | November 8, 2023
