Manila, Philippines – A monumental step towards de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, this is how the Philippine government sympathized with the announcement of Hamas and Israel for the first phase of the US-Backed Peace Plan in Gaza.
In a statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the country recognizes two sides’ commitment to a ceasefire.
The Philippines hopes that this step will be continued, and maintained in the long term, for the benefit of the two million Filipinos and thousands of seafarers who have also been affected by the conflict.
Among the thousands who have died in the war between Israel and Hamas are four Filipinos working in Israel.
Alert Level 2 remains in place in Israel, with the government allowing only essential travel to Israel.
Sending first-time workers to the country is still prohibited, except for those who already have contracts.
According to Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh, peace is the only solution to the long-standing conflict in the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this was for the benefit of Israeli-American relations, and for families to be able to return to their loved ones, which was temporarily hindered due to the two-year war.
Hamas now considers the war between Israel and Gaza to have ended permanently, this is how Hamas Chief Negotiator Khalil al-Hayya described the agreement they reached with the peace negotiators.
Hamas also vowed that it would work for a Palestinian state, recognizing Israel as its capital.
67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Tel Aviv attacked the city, more than 20,000 of them were minors.—Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News