Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Qatar is among the countries that mediated between Israel and Hamas for the opening of a humanitarian corridor for Filipinos who had been wanting to leave Gaza amid the ongoing war.
In a post on X, Foreign Affairs Secretary Manalo expressed his gratitude to the Arab state for its efforts to open the Rafah border between war-torn Gaza and Egypt, where at least 40 Filipinos were able to cross on Tuesday.
“We acknowledge and deeply appreciate Qatar’s crucial mediation efforts in the opening of the Rafah border crossing, allowing foreign nationals, including Filipinos, to exit Gaza,” Manalo said.
He posted a photo of him and Qatari Ambassador to Manila Ahmed Saad Al Hamidi on his X account.
The country’s top diplomat said Manila and Doha are united in its “goal of a lasting peace in the region” as hostilities continue between the two sides.
Manalo expressed relief that after a month, an initial group of Filipinos in the Palestinian territory already exited Gaza for eventual repatriation.
Before the border opening, there were 137 Filipinos who were trapped in Gaza. Two of them, who were members of humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders, were able to leave during the short opening of the border.
“I thank our partners, especially the governments of Israel and Egypt for their help, and commend the efforts of our embassies in Israel, Egypt and Jordan,” Manalo said.
The border opening, which was expected to happen over the weekend, had been delayed twice, on Sunday and Monday, due to Israel’s attack on an ambulance in Gaza and Hamas’ attack on Israel.
As of Wednesday, Nov. 8, about 165 Filipinos from countries affected by Israel-Hamas war either have already been repatriated by the Philippine government or are set to be repatriated.
A big chunk of the figure is those who came from Israel. A total of 102 overseas Filipinos from Israel had already arrived in Manila, who came in batches.
Meanwhile, 21 Filipinos from Lebanon, where fear of hostilities between Israel and local terrorist group Hezbollah is looming, were scheduled to depart Beirut on Tuesday.
The Philippine government was also set to repatriate on Wednesday two Filipinos from the West Bank, another Palestinian territory separated from Israel, after they already arrived in the neighboring country of Jordan. — Joseph Pedrajas
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
