The Philippines will begin to pull out about 120 Filipinos living in Gaza Strip amid escalating clashes between Israeli troops and the Hamas that claimed more than 435 lives, a foreign spokesman said Saturday.
"All preparations are being made for the extraction and it is expected to take place soon, possibly on Sunday or Monday," said Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Claro Cristobal.
Cristobal said the families of these 120 Filipinos, including children, will be evacuated to neighboring Jordan as the first step.
Philippine officials in Israel are already facilitating their exit visas, he said.
The Philippine foreign affairs department earlier said the Israeli government already allowed the evacuation of Filipinos caught in the crossfire. All Filipino nationals have expressed willingness to be evacuated and some wanted to return to the Philippines, according to diplomatic sources.
It is not immediately clear if the evacuation would cover the Palestinian spouses who also wished to leave.
Since Israel unleashed its air and sea campaign last Saturday, at least 435 Palestinians have been killed, including 66 children, and 2,150 others were wounded, while Palestinian militants also fired hundred of rockets to bomb the Israeli south.
There is not yet report of any Philippine national being killed or injured in the cross-fire.
Manila said it is deeply concerned about the worsening situation in Gaza and Southern Israel and urged both sides to exercise restraint, cease immediately all acts of violence and fully respect international humanitarian law.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article