The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has already been preparing an evacuation plan in case the Filipinos in the Gaza Strip need to be evacuated.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said that they have identified a temporary safe haven where the evacuated Filipinos can be taken in case the trouble worsens.

In a report by RH 14 Leth Narciso, two C130s and one C295 will be used by the AFP for the evacuation operation.

Aguilar also said that the air assets will fly for 30 hours to reach Ben Gurion Airport in Israel.

From Israel, the Filipinos will be picked up in Gaza, and they will fly to Haifa or Tel Aviv, where they will be boarded by a commercial flight back home to the Philippines.

However, the AFP spokesperson said that the plan will be executed when a go signal is already given by senior officials.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Filipinos can pass through the Egyptian border because the border in Israel is closed.

It said that the number of Filipinos in Gaza who have requested repatriation has risen to 70 from its previous number of 38.