President Donald Trump has given himself two weeks to decide if he will commit United States forces to backing Israel’s military campaign against Iran, saying he will first give diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington a chance.
In a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read Trump’s statement, wherein he said, “Based on the fact that there is a chance for substantial negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future — I will make my decision on whether or not to go within the next two weeks,”
“I may do it. I may not do it,” the Republican president said on Wednesday about involving the US military in the fray.
The US leader is keeping his options open even as Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola described the security situation as “fluid” as missile strikes between Israel and Iran continue to escalate.
“It’s hard to say. If you look at the news reports, it seems like things are getting worse. But here, when you go outside, you see more and more people out on the streets,” she said on Friday.
Mendiola’s assessment came after the first group of Filipino nationals managed to cross the Israeli border into Jordan to flee the fighting.
Edsel Sarquilla, an engineer, was the first to reach Jordan on Wednesday.
He was soon joined by four tourists and a fellow worker, the Philippine Embassy in Jordan reported.
The six evacuees were received by Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos and other officials in Amman, who have begun conducting border inspections ahead of more expected arrivals.
Earlier, five Filipino students who were stranded in Israel while studying in Europe also received assistance from the Philippines’ diplomatic missions in crossing the border out of the conflict zone.
Meanwhile, Mendiola confirmed that eight Filipinos have been injured since fighting began on June 13, when Israel launched a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
One Filipino remains in critical condition, while seven others have been discharged from hospitals, she said.
Despite the deteriorating security, many Filipino workers are hesitant to return home due to the closure of Ben Gurion airport, which has made it difficult for them to access their savings.
Mendiola explained that most OFWs prefer to wait for outbound flights from Tel Aviv to resume before deciding to leave.
Preparations are also underway to repatriate 14 Filipino workers from Iran, in coordination with embassies in Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan, she said.
Each returning overseas worker stands to receive P150,000 in aid, split equally between the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is also on standby to provide further assistance upon their arrival in the Philippines.
As this developed, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) acknowledged it cannot compel Filipinos to return home, and the choice to remain or leave is ultimately theirs.
At a press conference on Friday, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the Philippine government is not enforcing a mandatory repatriation policy for Filipinos living in Israel. The decision to return to the Philippines will be based on their judgment, rather than a government directive.
Still, the number of overseas Filipino workers in Israel wanting to come home has already reached 178, and this figure is expected to grow further, he disclosed.
In addition to those in Israel, the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration have also received repatriation requests from 14 OFWs in Iran, three in Jordan, one in Lebanon, and one in Iraq.
“Repatriation is not yet mandatory, but we are aware that there are OFWs eager to return home. We are assisting them to ensure a smooth repatriation process,” Cacdac said. With AFP
