The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that the crossing of 20 Filipinos from Gaza to Egypt has been put on hold due to the development in the area.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said that the Rafah border crossing was suspended for two days, Saturday and Sunday.
“So everything may be moved by two days: the initial date of departure for the first batch of 20 Filipinos was for Sunday but then it was moved for today Monday and now it may be moved again for tomorrow Tuesday,” De Vega said.
“We are awaiting the final word which we should get later in the day,” he added.
The DFA official said there are still 20 Pinoys in this first batch. But as of now, the government is not even certain that there will be a crossing today.
“It could be 3 straight days with the Rafah crossing closed. We will find out later. We are six hours advance time,” De Vega said.
De Vega said that 115 Filipino nationals originally want to leave the border but became no longer interested when their Palestinian relatives will not be allowed to leave the border.
“So far, hindi pa marami ang gustong tumawid. Dati marami. Ngayon kaunti na lang, mga 46 lang ang gustong tumawid,” De Vega said in a GMA News interview.
The DFA official said that 136 Filipinos were permitted by the Israeli government to leave the Rafah border to proceed to Egypt.
De Vega said that the another batch of Filipinos will leave the border on Sunday or Monday.
“Dadami na ‘yan kapag nakalusot na ang unang groups — dalawang batch — ngayon 20, maaaring bukas 26. After that, merong madagdagan ‘yan kasi matatauhan sila dahil mahirap ang buhay sa Gaza, kulang pa ng food and water supply,” he said.
