Israeli envoy: 28,000 OFWs safe amid Middle East conflict

MANILA, Philippines — The 28,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Israel are “safe” amid the continuous fighting with the group of Hamas in Gaza City, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran, the ambassador of Israel has assured the public.

Israel Ambassador Ilan Fluss gave the assurance to House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo, when the envoy paid a courtesy visit to the lawmaker’s office at the House of Representatives at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City last Wednesday.

“We’re treating them like Israelis. In their homes, we have a shelter or a safety room. They are not sent close to the borders or war-torn area. We are making sure that where they stay they have a safety room, a shelter, and if they need anything, they have a number they can call,” Fluss said.

This was the envoy’s response to Tulfo’s query: “We have a lot of Filipino friends, and they have a lot of relatives in Israel right now. How are they?”

Fluss explained that the OFWs are working in their “green zone” or “safe area,” and are far from danger. He immediately guaranteed the safety of the Filipinos in their country despite the ongoing war in their area.

The ambassador also relayed to Tulfo that they are currently in need of more Filipino workers in their country, but they could not hire more because of the existing deployment ban of Filipinos to Israel.

“We need workers in agriculture, in construction, in industries, in hotels, in restaurants. There are about 11 professions that we are looking for workers from overseas,” Fluss said.

“The war has totally affected the deployment of Filipinos,” he added.

The Israeli ambassador likewise ascertained that Israel is helping the families of Filipinos who have been affected by the war, such as when someone dies or is held hostage while in their country.

“They are getting full support from the Israeli government, like any other Israeli victim of terror. So they get, they need a family to get a monthly income. If they need special assistance for education, for medical,” he said.

“So those families are being taken care of. We had two Filipinos that were taken hostage. Of course, both were released. One of them is back here (in the Philippines),” he added.