By: Jetaime Kaina Cerbito
The Philippines formally declared support for Israel against Hamas. Photo courtesy of Inquirer.
The Philippines declared its support for Israel in its war against militant group Hamas but condemned the killing of civilians including Palestinians, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday.
Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega made a statement in response to questions regarding the extent of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, including its bombardment which killed thousands of Palestinian civilians.
“The President has indicated that the Philippines sides with Israel,” the undersecretary said in an online press briefing.
“No country is telling any other country to kill civilians, to violate humanitarian law, that’s not what we meant. So any killing of civilians is condemned.” He added.
There are about 135 Filipinos in the Gaza Strip under control of the Islamist militant group Hamas, and four Filipino fatalities have been confirmed.
The DFA clarified that they want civilian lives to be protected, especially Filipinos caught in the crossfire between Israel and Hamas, and to safely bring them home.
War fatalities
The Al Ahli Arab Hospital in northern Gaza was bombed on Tuesday, killing 500 patients, medical workers and civilians.
Israel has denied any responsibility in the hospital bombing, accusing a group calling for a Palestinian state Palestinian Islamic Jihad, for causing the incident.
The DFA expressed its sympathy for the incident that led to the death of hundreds of innocent civilians.
“We grieve for the hundreds of innocent lives lost in this tragic incident, noncombatants which include medical practitioners, children, the wounded and displaced individuals who only sought shelter at the facility.” DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said.
“All parties should do their utmost to protect civilians in times of war and armed conflict. We support efforts of the United Nations to provide humanitarian relief in conflict areas,” the spokesperson added.
Around 1,400 have died in Israel according to the Israeli authorities, while nearly 3,500 fatalities in Gaza are recorded by Palestinian health ministry as of writing.