The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) disclosed that 8 Filipinos injured in the ongoing attacks between Israel and Iran, with one in critical conditio.

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola said seven of the injured Filipinos have been discharged, while the remaining Filipino in critical condition is still being treated.

So far, 187 Filipinos in Israel have requested to be repatriated to the Philippines, said Mendiola.

There are 26 Filipinos included in the first batch of repatriates, scheduled to depart Israel in the next two to three days.

Currently, there are 30,000 overseas Filipino workers in Israel, including the 1,333 repatriated to the Philippines as of June 12.

Five Filipino students studying in Europe have been given assistance to cross the border after being stranded in Israel due to the ongoing violence.

Mendiola said the situation in Israel “fluid” as the people attempt to function normally despite the continuous attacks.

“Actually ang hirap sabihin eh. Kung titingnan mo ‘yung mga news reports, parang lumalala. Pero dito naman ‘pag lumabas ka, makikita mo, dumarami ‘yung mga tao na nasa labas,” she said.

Mendiola said many OFWs in Israel hesitate to come back to the Philippines due to savings that were put on hold following the recent events.

Each foreign worker in Israel has savings they can withdraw through the Ben Gurion airport, which has closed due to the geopolitical tension with Iran.

The deployment ban in Israel, imposed Oct. 2023 during the height of the Israel-Hamas conflict, remains, the ambassador said.

Last June 13 Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear facilities. The Iranian government immediately mounted a counterstrike, saying Israel’s attack is a declaration of war.