There is a possibility that the missing persons are unreachable because they just left their phones when they rushed to evacuate during the start of the attacks.
AN official of the Department of Foreign Affairs said at least six Filipinos unaccounted for amid the massive attack of Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel.
“There are a number of unaccounted Filipinos. Latest number was 6,” DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega told GMA News Online in a message.
He added that the Philippine Embassy in Israel is checking on the information shared by an Israel-based overseas Filipino worker (OFW) that eight Filipinos were missing.
“[I]f the Pinoy is saying 8, Embassy is checking,” De Vega said.
Interviewed on Unang Balita on Monday, Benjamin Nepomuceno said the information regarding the eight missing Filipinos was posted in a Facebook community page.
“As of the moment, nakikita ko mga eight Filipinos ang nawawala and meron din tayong Filipinos na nasa ospital,” Nepomuceno said.
“Pero unverified pa po itong mga details na ito talaga,” he added.
Nepomuceno said that there is a possibility that the missing persons are unreachable because they just left their phones when they rushed to evacuate during the start of the attacks.
A “state of war alert” was issued by Israel’s Home Front Command following the attack.
Israel said the Iran-backed group had declared war as its army confirmed fighting with militants in several Israeli towns and military bases near Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, vowed to retaliate.
The death toll due to the attacks surged to almost 1,000 as reported by officials on both sides said Sunday, according to an Agence France-Presse report.
The conflict’s worst escalation in decades has claimed more than 600 lives on the Israeli side, the government press office said.
Gaza officials reported at least 370 deaths.
De Vega on Sunday said they have not received any reports of casualties among Filipinos in Israel following Hamas’ attacks.
According to the DFA official, there are almost 30,000 Filipinos in Israel but most of them are not in the southern portion which is near the Gaza Strip.
Regarding social media posts about Filipinos supposedly kidnapped by armed men, de Vega said the DFA has not yet received reports about it.
As to implementing a deployment ban of OFWs to Israel, De Vega on Sunday said this has yet to be discussed.
The Philippine Embassy in Israel has announced the closure beginning October 8 until further notice” due to the security situation.
“For emergencies, please contact the Embassy’s emergency number, +972-54-4661188,” it said.
