DFA confirms 3rd Filipino fatality in Israel-Hamas conflict

A plume of smoke billows behind highrise buildings in the sky during an Israeli retaliatory airstrike on Gaza City on October 9, 2023. (Photo by Mahmud Hams / AFP)

(Eagle News)–Another Filipino has been confirmed dead in the ongoing Israel-Hamas armed conflict.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the third Filipino fatality was a 49-year-old woman from Negros Occidental.

The DFA official said she was a caregiver who attended a music festival where Hamas reportedly attacked.

He said the remains had been made to undergo DNA testing for confirmation, with “a lot of the bodies” mutilated or burned.

The other two Filipino fatalities have been identified as Angeline Aguirre, a nurse, and Paul Vincent Castelvi, a caregiver.

So far, De Vega said three Filipinos remain missing.

On Thursday, the Philippines placed Gaza under Alert Level 3, which entails a voluntary repatriation of Filipinos.

Alert Level 2, meanwhile, was raised over Israel.

The DFA said this means new hires will not be deployed.

Over the weekend, Hamas militants carried out what is believed to be their deadliest attack against Israel in years.

Media reports said militants attacked several Israeli towns, and launched rockets.

Israel has launched retaliatory attacks.

More than 1000 have been reported killed in the raging Israel-Hamas conflict.