MALACAÑANG said the Philippines is coordinating with Israel to repatriate Filipinos affected by the armed conflict there. 

The Presidential Communications Office made the statement after the Philippines raised Alert Level 4 (mandatory repatriation) in Gaza as Israel prepares for its ground offensive against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the besieged enclave. 

Three Filipinos have been killed amid the fierce fighting between Israel and Hamas. Their remains have yet to be flown back to the Philippines because of the volatile situation.

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the Philippine ambassador to Egypt is now waiting for positive feedback for the possible opening of a humanitarian corridor so that the government can start with the repatriation efforts,” the PCO said in a press release on Monday. 

“The President also said that the airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, is still open, but it is not yet allowing refugees. However, the Philippine government is coordinating efforts with the Israeli government to allow the repatriation of affected Filipinos,” it added.

For his part, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said the government should “act with speed and deliberation to keep our fellow countrymen out of harm’s way.”

“Bullets know neither color nor creed. The urgent need of the hour is to support de-escalation and peace,” said Go, vice chairperson of the Senate committee on migrant workers.

Alarm has grown about a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel has cut off water, food, and power, vowing to maintain the complete siege until all hostages taken by the Palestinian Islamist militant group are freed.

Israeli forces were on Sunday readying for a ground invasion of Gaza.

In the eight days since Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their attack, Israel has responded with a devastating bombing campaign that has claimed over 2,300 lives in Gaza.

with a report from Agence France Presse