Israel Ambassador Ilan Fluss assured Filipinos and other foreign nationals living or working in Israel they will receive the same level of protection as Israelis amid the retaliatory strikes of Iran.
Fluss on Saturday reported there are at least three people killed in the wake of counterattacks by Iran after Israel drew first blood Friday as tensions escalated in the Middle East.
“We are committed to make sure that the Filipinos in Israel are safe and are getting the same treatment as any other Israeli and any other person in the state of Israel. We urge Filipinos in Israel to follow instructions from the home front command, these instructions will save lives,” he said.
The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv issued a safety advisory urging the public to immediately proceed to designated shelters, stairwells or windowless rooms once an alert is received.
It also advised people to stay inside bomb shelters or protected spaces for at least 10 minutes after sirens stop, warning that missiles and debris can pose threats even after initial alerts have ended.
The embassy’s crisis management team has already activated contingency measures, including reopening shelters and prepositioning essential supplies.
The Department of Migrant Workers reported that about 20,000 Filipinos are in Israel, with 13,000 holding proper documentation.
Ambassador Aileen Mendiola-Rau said plans to repatriate nationals are being reviewed, though airspace in Israel and Jordan remains closed due to the conflict.
The conflict flared up on June 13 when Israel reportedly struck Iranian military facilities, triggering missile retaliation from Tehran.
Israel has since expanded its operations, targeting Iranian air defenses and nuclear facilities in strikes that Iran says killed dozens.
Iran launched fresh missiles at Israeli cities, wounding civilians and damaging buildings, while Israel responded with further attacks.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said no Filipino has been reported hurt so far, but the escalation of attacks between Iran and Israel sparked fears over a possible wider regional conflict.
Based on the latest DFA data, there are 30,742 Filipinos in Israel and at least 1,180 in Iran, most of whom are married to Iranian nationals.
Fluss said the Israeli Embassy in Manila remains open as it continues to assess the situation on the ground.
