Rescued OFWs in Israel running short of shelters, says PH Embassy --- By GMA Integrated News

The Philippine Embassy in Israel said temporary shelters for rescued Filipinos from the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas are starting to run short. In JP Soriano’s Tuesday report on “24 Oras,” Consul General and Deputy Chief of Mission Anthony Mandap said they are currently looking for facilities to house those who escaped from the violence. "Sa ngayon ang ka-kumpitensya natin yung kanilang armed forces eh kasi maraming hotel parang sine sequester na nila para magamit ng mga sundalo kaya medyo nangangamba kami na baka maubusan tayo, mabuti may mga options tayo na ganito," Mandap said. Israel is home to 30,000 Filipinos, with most of them situated in Tel Aviv — one of the most populated cities in the country. It remains under Alert 2 which entails restriction of non-essential movements, avoiding places of protest, and preparation for possible evacuation. Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs showed there were a total of 135 Filipinos in Gaza, which is under Alert Level 4 (mandatory repatriation). Survivors trooping in the Gaza side of the Rafah Crossing Border earlier said food and water supplies are starting to get depleted, with some Filipinos resorting to eating spoiled bread and collecting rainwater. Hamas militants carried out their deadliest attack in Israel's history on October 7, when gunmen rampaged through Israeli towns, killing more than 1,000 people and taking scores of hostages to Gaza. There are 135 Filipinos in Gaza, but a Department of Foreign Affairs official earlier said only around 78 to 80 are expected to go to Rafah Crossing to go into Egypt. Rafah is the main route in and out of the Gaza Strip that is not controlled by Israel. Over the weekend, the first humanitarian aid convoy to be sent to the besieged Gaza Strip since war broke out there began moving through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt on Saturday after days of diplomatic wrangling over conditions for delivering the relief. The United Nations said the 20-truck convoy included life-saving supplies that would be received by the Palestinian Red Crescent. Palestinian group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, said the delivery included medicine and limited amounts of food. Pinoy caregiver survives attack Joey Pagsolingan, a Filipino caregiver in Kibbutz Be’eri, said he stayed in his employer’s bomb shelter for about 15 hours to escape the attack. He sustained gunshot wounds and is currently under treatment. “Andun na sila sa bahay namin, ang dami nila. Ako lang may hawak. Walang lock yung baba. Ang ginawa ko pumunta ako sa alaga ko at sabi ko, inaya ko siya ilang beses talagang ayaw niya,” Pagsolingan said. (They went to our house. I rushed to the bomb shelter but my employer did not go.) The OFW also said the Hamas group tried to enter the bomb shelter and identified themselves as the Israeli Defense Forces but when he did not believe them, the militants rained bullets on the door, which caused his gunshot wounds. Pagsolingan survived but his employer didn’t. “Itong kamay ko, pagka-tama puro dugo, napasigaw nga ako. Medyo tumilapon ako, napasigaw ako. Kung makita niyo nagkalat ang dugo.Nirescue nila ako first aid sa loob ng bahay,” he said. (My hands were full of blood and I screamed due to the pain. If you’ll see my room there was blood everywhere. They put first aid on me in the house.) “Tapos yung alaga ko nandun nakita ko nung nilabas, nakaupo siya sa plastic na upuan sa bakuran namin. Patay na. Miracle talaga na buhay pa ako ngayon. ‘Yung mga hindi naniniwala sa miracle, andito ako patunay,” he added. (I saw my employer dead. It’s a miracle I survived.)—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News