At least four Filipinos were injured and hospitalized in Israel over the weekend following Iran’s retaliatory drone and missile strikes, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed.

The injured individuals, whose conditions are being closely monitored by the Philippine Embassy in Israel, were reportedly from the city of Rehovot, approximately 20 kilometers from Tel Aviv. DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega stated on Sunday that while in the hospital, the four Filipinos are “not in critical condition.” However, recent reports from the Philippine Embassy indicate that one Filipina is in critical condition at Shamir Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit, having sustained life-threatening injuries to her heart and lungs. Two others are receiving treatment at Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot with arm and leg injuries and after emergency surgery.

The intensified conflict saw Iran launch missiles and drones towards Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, following Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and military sites. While Filipinos in Israel have reported “mostly psychological trauma,” the Philippine Embassy in Israel has been active in providing assistance, including sheltering a Filipino whose house was affected by a missile strike.

With an estimated 30,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Israel and approximately 1,100 in Iran, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has advised all OFWs in the region to take necessary precautions. Migration expert Manny Geslani emphasized the importance for OFWs, particularly caregivers in Israel and those in companies and factories in Iraq, to be aware of air raid sirens and the nearest bomb shelters. Geslani also urged the Philippine government to ensure the safety of Filipinos employed in US bases in Iraq, who he warned are in grave danger should further missile attacks occur.

The DMW has alerted OFWs across Israel, Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries, providing hotlines for assistance.While no injuries or requests for assistance have been reported among Filipinos in Iran, contingency plans, including a possible evacuation route via Turkmenistan, are being mapped out by the DFA. The Philippine Embassy in Israel is currently assessing whether to recommend voluntary or mandatory repatriation for OFWs in the coming days.

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