Pinays appeal for Palestinian husbands kept from leaving Gaza

Not wanting to be separated, several Filipinas who are waiting to leave Gaza at the border with Egypt are appealing on behalf of their Palestinian spouses who failed security checks.

According to JP Soriano's report on "24 Oras," the Philippine government is waiting for Egypt to reopen its border crossing at Rafah in order for the remaining Filipinos in Gaza along with 16 Palestinian spouses who were allowed by Israel and Egypt to leave the war-torn territory.|

“All the remaining Filipinos have been approved, meaning to say if they want to go they can all go as a group, not in batches, and they have approved 16 of the Palestinian spouses, not all. There were some who were not allowed because they did not pass the security checks,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said. 

Among the Filipinos on the list who can cross the border and return to the Philippines is Diana (not her real name). Her Palestinian husband, however, was one of those who did not pass the security check.

“Marami po sa pamilya namin wala po sa listahan, at mahirap po lumabas sa amin ngayon na hindi po namin kasama yung asawa namin,” Diana said.

(Many of our family members are not on the list, and we are finding it difficult to leave  now that our husbands will not be coming with us.)

Diana said she and her husband had been living together in the Philippines for a long time. They were spending their vacation in Gaza when the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted.

“Sana po magawan po ng paraan kasi sobrang hirap na po ng buhay namin ngayon wala na po kaming pagkain, tubig,” Diana added.

(I hope we can find a solution because our life is very difficult, we have run out of food and water.)

Another Filipina at the border pleaded for her Palestinian husband to be allowed to evacuate with her.

“Tulungan po kami na ma-isama ko ang asawa ko. Halos lahat po ng may asawa na kasama pag labas palagi po kami sa border, tapos bumabalik din kami sa bahay,” she pleaded.

(Please help us so that I can leave with my husband. Almost all of us with husbands are with us when we go out [for protection], we are always at the border but we return home empty-handed.)

According to the DFA, the Palestinian government should be the one to make an appeal for their nationals.

“There are 22 left with no security clearance, I think this is (a) sensitive (issue). This is approved by the Israelis and the Egyptians, I think if there’s an appeal it should be the Palestinian government which makes an appeal,” De Vega said.

The Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs (OUMWA) and the DFA are currently trying to find transportation for a number of Filipinos who are trying to reach the Rafah border.—Sherilyn Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News