The Philippine government has repatriated 106 Filipinos from Israel amid escalating security tensions in the Middle East, the Philippine ambassador to Israel said Friday.
Ambassador Aileen Mendiola confirmed the figure during an interview on the government program *Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon*, detailing that the evacuations involved coordinated crossings through neighboring borders to bypass regional airspace restrictions and ongoing conflict risks.
Of the total, 77 Filipinos were processed via Egypt, with a recent group of 26—including a 2-month-old infant—crossing the Taba border crossing between Israel and Egypt just a day earlier. Another 28 were assisted through Jordan using the Allenby and Sheik Hussein crossings, while one individual returned promptly via a humanitarian flight, Mendiola said.
Israel’s immigration data from February showed approximately 26,675 Filipinos residing in the country, most working as caregivers. Despite the volatile situation, only a small number—around 81 individuals based on recent tallies—have expressed interest in repatriation.
Mendiola attributed the low demand to factors such as stable employment opportunities and the availability of robust civil defense infrastructure in Israel. She dismissed circulating claims of discrimination against migrant workers in access to bomb shelters, stating that Israeli law requires such facilities to be open to all residents regardless of nationality.
To support those remaining, the Philippine Embassy has distributed 665 food packs to Filipino hotel workers and maintained open communication channels via WhatsApp and social media platforms.
Mendiola urged Filipinos in Israel to download the Israeli Home Front Command app for real-time alerts and to prepare “Go Bags” stocked with essential documents, food, water and medications.
“Kapag tumunog iyon, iyong first na tunog pa lang, leave everything, go to the shelter, seek shelter immediately,” she emphasized in Filipino. “Don’t do anything else, iyon ang gawin mo iyon.” (When the alarm sounds, at the very first alert, drop everything and head to the shelter immediately. Do not do anything else—that is your priority.)
The ambassador also cautioned against misinformation, including AI-generated fake images and reports depicting widespread destruction, and advised families of overseas Filipino workers to verify information directly with their relatives or official embassy sources rather than relying on unverified social media content.
The repatriations occur against a backdrop of heightened regional instability, though broader Middle East evacuations have involved larger chartered flights from other affected countries. Philippine officials have stressed readiness for further assistance should conditions worsen, but no mandatory mass repatriation has been ordered for Israel.
