Filipino taken hostage, 3 wounded, 4 still missing in Israel — Filipino community leader

A Filipino in Israel was taken hostage by Hamas, while three others were wounded after the militant group made a surprise attack on the country over the weekend.

This was according to Lourdes Levi, a Filipino community leader in Israel. Meanwhile, the Philippine government has not released any official report about it and said they are still confirming any information.

In an interview with ANC, Levi said that aside from the one taken hostage and the three wounded, four more Filipinos remain missing as of Monday.

“Meron po tayong tatlong Pilipino na wounded, at meron po tayong natitirang apat na di pa nakikita (We have three Filipinos who are wounded, and four who remain unaccounted for),” she said.

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Junie Laylo, in an interview with DZBB on Monday, said five Filipinos remain missing.

“Meron po tayong nakasama sa hostage na dinala sa Gaza na isa (There is also one who was taken hostage and brought to Gaza),” she added.

Levi is one of the Filipino community leaders in Israel. She said she has been in direct contact with Philippine embassy officials and community leaders to exchange information and receive updates about the situation of Filipinos there.

There are about 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, according to the Philippine government, but most of them are located north of the country, or far from where fighting is tense.

Levi said community leaders cannot reveal the names of the affected Filipinos, but they are already checking on them and are coordinating with the embassy and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) rescuers regarding their situation.

Death toll from Israel and Gaza, an area controlled by Hamas, already reached a thousand after the militant group on Saturday morning attacked Israel as they entered into the country by land, sea and air.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu eventually ordered “war” against Hamas as retaliation.

— Joseph Pedrajas