The release of a Filipino captive abducted during the height of the present conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants was confirmed by the Israeli Embassy in Manila.
The declaration followed a four-day humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. During that time, 150 Palestinians will be released from Israeli prisons and Hamas will release captives. A total ceasefire and the suspension of air operations in Gaza are part of this accord.
“On Saturday morning, the Israeli Embassy in Manila expressed its relief upon Mr. Jimmy Pacheco’s release from Hamas captivity.”
“To guarantee his wellbeing, Jimmy is going through medical evaluations at Shamir Medical Centre. He was greeted by senior officials from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Junie Laylo, the Philippine Ambassador to Israel.
Following the October 7 attack by Hamas and other Palestinian militants, which left over 1,200 people dead in Israel and about 240 hostages taken, more than four Filipino deaths have been reported.
Following the war, a large number of Filipinos from both Israel and Palestine were repatriated to the Philippines.
In a government statement on Friday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said that Pacheco, 33, is currently under the care of the Philippine Embassy in Israel.
Pachecho was one of the first 24 hostages that Hamas freed.
Marcos praised the Philippine Foreign Services and expressed gratitude to the State of Qatar for helping to ensure Pacheco’s liberation.
“We remain concerned over the whereabouts of our other national, Ms. Noralyn Babadilla, and are sparing no effort to locate and secure her if she is indeed found to be one of the hostages,” Marcos stated.
“We pray for the continued success of the truce and for all hostages to be released.”
The president gave the families of Filipinos living in Israel and their country of origin confidence that they would keep an eye on events in the war-torn regions and work with their international counterparts to monitor the situation.
Death toll rising
After that, Israeli forces launched several airstrikes on Gaza, killing approximately 14,854 Palestinians, in retaliation and to declare war on Hamas. The health ministry of Gaza, which is under Hamas control, reported that 4,00 women and 6,150 children were among the fatalities.
According to experts from the UN, Israel had been unlawfully occupying Palestine prior to this occurrence, launching rockets into Gaza for years and enacting blockades and evictions.
The Israeli Embassy in Manila went on, “Our thoughts and prayers remain for the safe release of the 200+ hostages still held in captivity by the terror organisation Hamas.”
According to reports from Agence France-Presse, “The Israeli government is committed and will do whatever is needed to bring them back home.”
