'Angeline' was killed by militants when she refused to abandon her elderly employer.
A 33-year-old Filipina nurse was among the foreigners killed by Hamas militants during the assault on southern Israel on Saturday when she refused to leave her elderly employer.
According to the Philippine Embassy in Israel, the victim was from Pangasinan. Also killed was a 42-year-old Pinoy from Pampanga.
On Saturday (Oct. 7), Hamas militants launched 3,000 rockets into Israel and assaulted areas bordering the Gaza Strip, killing at least 1,200 Israelis, as well as foreign nationals from 23 countries.
The woman reportedly lived in Israel for six years, was recently married, and her husband resides in the Philippines. The male victim was also married and was “among those captured by the Hamas,” Labor attaché Rodolfo Gabasan said.
Gabasan said that both were killed in a kibbutz during the surprise attacks launched by Hamas militants on Saturday. According to Gagasan, the woman and her employer were “gunned down” as Hamas fighters forcibly opened their door.
The bodies of both deceased Filipino nationals were reportedly found in the Gaza Envelope, populated areas of Israel within 7 km of the Gaza Strip border.
In a statement issued on Wednesday (Oct. 11) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wrote “My heart is heavy upon hearing confirmation of the deaths of two Filipinos in Israel. The Philippines condemns these killings and stands firmly against the ongoing terror and violence.”
Also on Wednesday, the deputy mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan-Nahoum on X posted a photo of the female victim and identified her as “Angeline.” According to Hassan-Nahoum, Angeline had been caring for an elderly woman identified as “Nira” in the Kibbutz Kfar Aza, which is situated between Netivot and Sderot about 5 km east of Gaza.
The deputy mayor wrote that although Angeline had the opportunity to escape from the Hamas assault, “Angeline showed unbelievable humanity and loyalty by remaining Nira’s side during the violence, resulting in both of them being brutally murdered by Hamas.” Hassan-Nahoum lauded Angeline’s sacrifice as an “unimaginable honor in the face of evil.”
