OFWs Can’t Leave The Elderly Amid Israel-Hamas War, Says Community Leader

Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Israel continue to work despite the ongoing conflict between the country and Palestinian militant group Hamas, a community leader in Tel Aviv said on Monday, Oct. 9.

In an interview on “Dateline Philippines” on ANC, Lourdes Levi, a caregiver of 24 years, said employers are still their responsibility, and “life must go on” for them.

“You need to work dahil wala kayong makakapalit (because there are no replacements), kawawa ‘yung mga matatanda (the elders will suffer). So as a caregiver, napakalaking responsibilidad naming (we have such a huge responsibility),” Levi shared.

While unsafe, Levi relies on prayer, and forces herself to be brave. Other OFWs do the same as they continue to work amid the conflict, she added.

But Levi stressed OFWs should stay in their workplaces if feasible. In her case, she has to travel back and forth as a night-shift caregiver, while a different Filipina nurse stays in for her elderly employer.

“Kung ‘di namin tatapangan at lalakasan ang loob, walang mangyayari sa ‘min. Ngayon, hindi lang pulis ang pwede magprotekta sa ‘min, ang mga sarili din namin dahil hindi rin namin alam kung nasaan ang kalaban namin (If we will not be courageous, nothing will happen. Now, not only policemen can protect us, but ourselves too, because we do not even know where our enemies are). Life must go on,” Levi stressed.

More than a thousand have died since Hamas attacked Israel last Saturday, Oct. 7. Alongside a barrage of rockets, militants entered Israel through motorbikes, pickup trucks, gliders and speedboats. 

Israel has already declared war on Hamas, and retaliated with air raids on Gaza Strip, a Palestininian enclave.

Around 35,000 Filipinos are in Israel, with majority living outside the southern region near Gaza Strip.

On “Dateline Philippines,” Levi admitted it was the worst conflict she experience since she started working in Israel.

Currently, Levi and other Filipino community leaders are part of a group keeping in touch with the Philippine embassy and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to help account for other Filipinos.

Any footage, or claims of a Filipino casualty are forwarded to the group for verification, Levi said.

“Ang lagi namin sinasabi, magkaroon ng [patience]. Dahil Israeli man, hindi nakikita ang mga mahal nila sa buhay, pare-parehas lang kami naghihirap ang loob. Pare-parehas lang kami nag-aantay nang balita. At pare-parehas lang kaming nananalangin para sa kaligtasan ng bawa’t isa (We always ask for patience, because even Israelis have missing loved ones, and we are all suffering. We all wait for the news, and we all pray for each other’s safety),” she said.

Uncertainty

In a separate interview on “Sa Totoo Lang” on One PH, Jerusalem-based caregiver Benjamin Nepomuceno said they are waiting for updates from Israeli authorities, and the Philippine embassy before asking for repatriation.

“So waiting talaga kami sa mga susunod na mangyayari. Kung tinatanong niyo po ang kaba namin, sobrang kaba din po, kasi hindi natin alam ‘yung mga susunod na mangyayari (We are waiting for what happens next. If you ask us, we are very nervous, because we do not know what will happen next),” Nepomuceno said on Monday.

Currently, Nepomuceno said they have been advised to stay at home due to reports of “shooters” within Israel.

In Jerusalem, Nepomuceno recounted seeing Filipino evacuees from Israel’s southern parts. Some even brought their employers, he said.

Most establishments have also closed down, according to him. “‘Yung mga basic lang siguro na kailanganin natin, like ‘yung mga grocery store, ‘yun lang ang open sa ngayon. Pero ‘yung mga for shopping…eh sarado sila (Only establishments with basic necessities such as grocery stores are open right now. But those for shopping are closed),” Nepomuceno said.

Equal treatment

On “One Balita Pilipinas” on One PH, Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss assured Filipinos in Israel would be treated equally as their citizens.

Fluss bared that he relayed the plight of foreign workers to foreign affairs minister Eli Cohen last Sunday, Oct. 9.

“His (Cohen’s) message was very clear. Filipinos and OFWs are treated the same as Israeli citizens. We will do our best to protect them and give them whatever services they need. So we don’t make any distinction at any difference. They are important for us, they live with our families in our homes, and we’ll take care of them,” Fluss said on Monday.

For now, the ambassador said Israel is focused on stabilizing the situation instead of determining how their intelligence failed to anticipate Hamas. The country is focused on casualties, and aiding families, Fluss said.

Counterattacks and strengthening border defenses are also prioritized, he added.

“The questions are (how Hamas successfully invaded Israel) are important questions. I believe they will come, but later after this war is over. This war, I believe it will take time. Difficult to say an exact time frame, but it is not going to be like past operations, as you know, two, three days, and that’s it,” Fluss stressed.

Fluss expressed appreciation for President Marcos’ support for Israel. He said it clearly showed the Philippines backs Israel in fighting against terror, its defense against a terror attack, and “making sure that Israel and Israeli citizens are safe and secure.”

Fluss reiterated calls of solidarity from the international community. Apart from the Philippines, he cited the United States and President Joe Biden showing support for his country.

“We (also) heard from many European countries, (and) we heard also from quite a few Asian leaders, and (we were) very happy,” Fluss said.

Other countries that have shown support include Belgium, Israel, China, France, Japan, Ukraine, and Qatar to name a few.