Phl gov't imposes mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Gaza

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine government placed today the crisis alert level 4, or mandatory repatriation for Filipinos in Gaza Strip in view of the threats posed by the Israel- Hamas conflict.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement that the Philippine Embassies in Cairo, Tel Aviv, and Amman are ready to repatriate Filipinos from Gaza in coordination with concerned authorities of Israel, Egypt, Jordan and the United Nations and other International Organizations operating in Gaza.  

Alert level 2 or restriction phase was also raised in areas in Israel within 15 km from the border with Gaza, it said, adding that alert level 1 or precautionary phase remains raised in the West Bank.

The DFA said it continues to closely monitor developments as it reiterated the Philippine calls for the cessation of hostilities to prevent further loss of innocent lives.

The government has estimated that there are around 109 Filipinos in Gaza while there are 36,400 Filipinos in the whole of Israel.