15-10-2023 (MANILA) Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the Philippine government has elevated its crisis warning to Alert Level 4, making the evacuation of Filipinos in the area mandatory. Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Gaza is now on Alert Level 4, Filipinos must leave.”
According to the Philippine government, 137 Filipinos in Gaza have expressed their desire to return to the Philippines as the conflict intensifies since October 7. The deteriorating security situation has raised concerns for the safety and well-being of Filipino nationals in the region.
In response to the escalating crisis, the Israeli military announced on Saturday, October 14, that its forces were preparing to implement various offensive plans, fueling expectations of a potential invasion of the Gaza Strip. This comes in the aftermath of a devastating attack launched by Hamas gunmen on Israel.
Israel has called for Palestinians to evacuate, asserting that “hundreds of thousands” of Palestinians have already heeded the warning and moved south. The evacuation call encompasses an area with a population of approximately 1.1 million residents, accounting for roughly half of the territory’s population.
However, Palestinians faced difficulties in fleeing from the areas of Gaza targeted by the Israeli military. They also grappled with worsening shortages of water and medical supplies, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
As the situation escalates, global leaders have urged all parties involved to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
