Egypt to prioritize Pinoys crossing from Gaza once border opens —DFA

Filipinos crossing over from Gaza to Egypt will be prioritized and assisted by Egyptian authorities, a Department of Foreign Affairs official said Saturday, quoting the Egyptian ambassador.

"Pasalamat din sa Egyptian ambassador dito, Ahmed Shehabeldin, dahil sabi niya, kinausap niya na ang kanilang pamahalaan na kapag nagsidatingan na ang mga foreigner doon sa gate [sa border] — kasi pagdating sa crossing, hindi pa Egypt 'yon eh. May konti pang aabutan hanggang nandoon ka sa gate, parang processing 'yon. Alam nila 'yan, binigyan sila ng mga pangalan [ng mga Pilipino] — na bigyan ng priority [ang mga Pilipino] or 'wag nang bigyan ng problema o bilisan na," DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(Thank you to Egyptian Ambassador [to the Philippines] Ahmed Shehabeldin. He said he talked to their government that when foreigners arrive at the gate [at the border between Gaza and Egypt], to give priority [to Filipinos] or don't give them problems, or make the processing faster. At the crossing, there is an area that is not yet Egypt, it's like a processing area. They [Egyptian authorities] know this already; they were given names [of Filipinos who intend to cross the border].)

There are 135 Filipinos in Gaza, de Vega said, but only around 78 to 80 are expected to go to Rafah Crossing to go into Egypt.

"Potentially, 135 ang Filipino nationals natin [ang nasa Gaza]... Pero hindi natin inaasahan, we don't expect na aabot sa 100 ang tatawid talaga [sa Rafah Crossing] dahil 'yung nakita lang sa crossing nu'ng umpisa, 78. Hanggang 80 lang ang interested," de Vega said.

(Potentially, there are 135 Filipino nationals [in Gaza]. But we are not expecting that the number of Filipinos who will cross [Rafah] will reach 100. We saw that at the start of the tensions, there were 78 [Filipinos] heading toward the border. Up to 80 [Filipinos] are interested [to cross].)

"Well, hindi naman natin makukuha sa pilitan 'yung iba. Sana, sana tumawid 'pag handa na dahil hindi natin magagarantiya ang safety nila at matiwasay ang kondisyon nila 'pag sumalakay na nang husto ang Gaza, 'yung ground assault ng Israel," he added.

(Well, we cannot convince the others to cross. We are hoping they would cross [the border] when ready because we cannot guarantee their safety and their conditions once the ground assault of Israel starts and Gaza [militants] attack.)

As of Saturday morning, however Rafah Crossing is still closed.

"Sa Gaza, well, dinaramdam namin na hindi pa nagbubukas [ang Rafah Crossing] hanggang ngayon. At wala pang balita kung kailan magbubukas except na 'it could be anytime, anytime,'" de Vega said.

(In Gaza, well, we are sad to say that it [Rafah Crossing] is still closed. And we have no word as to when it will open, except that 'it could be anytime, anytime.')

"Inaasahan natin na matapos na 'yung mga negotiations. May construction pa raw ng kalsada na kailangan pang tapusin agad eh. So wala pa. Pero at any moment's notice, puwede na silang tumawid kung sakaling magbukas [ang crossing]," he said.

(We are expecting that the negotiations [will be finished soon]. There is a road to be constructed, so it's still closed. But at a moment's notice, the [Filipinos] can cross should [Rafah] open.)

Fleeing Gaza

Hamas militants carried out their deadliest attack in Israel's history on October 7 when gunmen rampaged through Israeli towns.

Israel has retaliated with air strikes on Gaza that have razed entire districts.

It also warned Gaza City residents to flee south before Israel launches a ground offensive to annihilate Hamas.

"'Yung mga Pilipino, nag-evacuate lang to the south [ng Gaza City]... 'Yung ibang mga Pilipino na nasa south na naghihintay lang makatawid, may mga nagpasabi sa ating Embahada, na sana ibalik daw sila ng Gaza City dahil masikip dito, ganyan... Sinasabihan sila na huwag silang bumalik," de Vega said.

(The Filipinos evacuated to the south. Some Filipinos already in the south who are waiting to cross the border asked our Embassy to bring them back to Gaza City because it is crowded in the south. They were told not to go back to Gaza City.)

"May mga Pilipino na ayaw umalis ng Gaza dahil ayaw nilang iwan ang mga pamilya nilang Palestino. Pangalawa, nakasanayan na nila ang buhay doon... Ito ang buhay sa region," he added.

(There are some Filipinos who do not want to leave Gaza because they don't want to leave their Palestinian family behind. Second, they have become used to the life there. This is the life in the region.)

"'Yung giyera, hindi 'yan 365 days a year... Parang nagkakainitan... Pasulpot-sulpot... Tapos a few days hintayin natin tapos babalik na sa normal... Ang problema, hindi ito normal ngayon na a few days tapos na. Hindi... Sinabi ng Israel, papasok sila [sa Gaza] so giyera talaga 'to. So iba na ito. Sana umuwi na [ang mga Pilipino]," de Vega said.

(The war is not 365 days a year. There are tensions once in a while. Then after a few days, things go back to normal. Now the problem is, the situation now is not normal that it will be finished in a few days. No. Israel said they will go inside Gaza so this is really a war. This is different. We hope all Filipinos will choose to be repatriated.)

On Thursday, Manila time, Reuters reported that US President Joe Biden said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has agreed to open the Rafah crossing to allow about 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, which is under a blockade by Israel.

Pinoy fatalities and missing individuals

Meanwhile, four Filipinos were confirmed to be casualties in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Two remain missing, de Vega said.

"Inaasahan natin na buhay sila... Pero we are treating it now na parang we consider them na as hostage. In other words, all indications say na na-hostage sila. Asahan natin na ma-release sila," he said.

(We are hoping they are still alive. However we are treating it now as if they are hostages. In other words, all indications say they were taken as hostages. Let us hope they will be released.)

As for the bodies of the four fatalities, de Vega said the remains of one victim will be brought home in the next few days. The remains of two other victims, on the other hand, are with their family members in Israel.

"'Yung isa na lang 'di pa natin alam kailan uuwi dahil nasa morgue pa," de Vega said.

(We don't know yet when the remains of the other fatality can be repatriated because the body is still at the morgue.)

Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy staff are safe, de Vega said.

"Imbes na bawasan tao natin doon, baka dagdagan natin ang team pang-suporta," he said.

(Instead of decreasing the number of staff there, we might even add to the team for support.) —KG, GMA Integrated News