OFWs in Jerusalem safe amid air strikes


Filipino workers in Jerusalem remain safe despite ongoing armed conflict between the Israeli government and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, a migrant Filipina there said Wednesday.

Interviewed on GMA News TV's "Balitanghali," Ma. Cristina Maribeles-Lozada said Filipinos remain unaffected by the conflict although they are fully aware of it, thanks to the frequent advisories from the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv and a warning system for airstrikes.

"Gabi tumunog yung sirena, past 9. Hindi naman namin nakita kasi kailangang itakbo ko yung lola ko sa shelter. Within 10 to 20 seconds, dapat makatakbo ka sa shelter. Since may alaga akong matanda, hindi ka na pwedeng tumingin sa bintana. Salamin lahat ng paligid namin kaya hindi pwedeng dumungaw," she said.

While they're aware of how it may affect them, she said they do not know when the conflict would end.

"Nag-umpisa last week, so ngayon ongoing. Hindi namin alam kung kailan matatapos. (Pero) lahat naman kasi dito alam nila kung anong gagawin, sanay na sila, kaya may precautionary measures," said Lozada, who lives in front of the Israeli Parliament.

Tensions peaked between Israel and Hamas last month when three Israeli teenagers were allegedly abducted by ther group. The militant group has not laid claim to the kidnappings.

Earlier on Wednesday, a ranking leader of a Gaza militant group, Hafez Hamad, was killed with five others, including his family members, in an airstrike by Israel. Their deaths brought the Gaza death toll to at least 22.

The number includes seven Gaza gunmen killed early Monday, in a response to rocket attacks against southern Israel that targeted nine "terror" sites and concealed rocket launchers. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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