MANILA, Philippines – The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines shared in the country’s “happiness” upon the news that the 17 Filipino seafarers abducted by Houthi rebels over a year ago have arrived home.
This is amidst Israel also undergoing a ceasefire with Hamas and the releasing of Israeli hostages which started last Sunday.
“Well, I can only share with you my personal feelings, concerns; because I know what it's like to feel to have your people been back after 400 and something days being held captive by terrorists, and I can only share my happiness together with you getting your people back,” Ester Elizabet Buzgan, Deputy Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Israel said during a zoom interview with reporters on Thursday.
November 2023 while en route to India, Houthis hijacked the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader near Hodeidah, taking hostage its 25 crew members, including 17 Filipinos.
The move was reportedly in retaliation for Israel’s offensive against the Hamas in Gaza, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Buzgan underscored cooperation among countries to fight terrorism and to “make sure that any citizen, nowhere in the world, will just be kidnapped.”
According to Buzgan, terrorism is a global phenomenon and a challenge to many countries.
“The Philippines has encountered, unfortunately, terrorism in your own soil. So you know what it's like, and it's something that challenges many, many countries, locally. And of course, we expect the Philippines to fight that phenomenon that shouldn't be present anywhere in the world, and to make sure that any citizen ever, nowhere in the world will be just kidnapped, just because somebody decided to do, just because the terrorist organization decided to create terror,” Busgan stated.
Israel-Hamas ceasefire
Three Israeli hostages were released on Sunday, the first of 33 that is expected to be released by Hamas during the first phase of the ceasefire deal.
On Monday, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, as the long-awaited but very fragile deal took effect.
Reports from international media confirmed the hostages released as 24-year-old Romi Gonen, 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher and 28-year-old Emily Damari.
During the first phase of the ceasefire, Israeli troops will pull back into the buffer zone about half a mile wide inside Gaza along its border with Israel.
Humanitarian aid will start to arrive, with 600 trucks to enter Gaza daily.
The ceasefire deal will be implemented in three phases, the first of which will last for 42 days, while negotiations for the second phase is expected to begin after two weeks.
After six weeks of the first phase, the security cabinet of Israel will decide how to move forward with the deal.
According to the draft of the ceasefire agreement, during the first phase, Hamas will release 33 hostages. Three have already been released on the first day. On the seventh day, Hamas would release four hostages, and after seven days will release another three hostages thereafter.
Buzgan mentioned that the names of the hostages will be released a day before, and only then can they know if the hostages to be released are still alive.
“One thing that is important to mention, we don't know who's alive and who's dead, unfortunately, and we will see we don't also know who are the people that are going to be released on Saturday,” Buzgan said.
During each exchange, prisoners from the Palestinian side will be released by Israel after the hostages have arrived safely, according to reports.
Overall, Israel will release at least 1,700 Palestinian prisoners in phase 1.
Just a week ago, Israel accused the Palestinian militants of “reneging” on some details of the ceasefire deal, saying that the Israeli cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement, a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
This was denied by senior Hamas officials saying the group is committed to respecting the agreement.
After grueling negotiations facilitated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, the Israeli cabinet ratified the deal on January 17.
Expressing support for the ceasefire, the DFA released a statement “welcoming” the announcement of the long-awaited ceasefire agreement.
In the statement, the DFA reiterated the country’s call to all parties to adhere to their obligations under the international law, and protection of civilians affected by the war.
“The Philippines calls upon all parties to adhere to their obligations under the international law, with particular emphasis on the protection of civilians, especially women and children, and the facilitation of humanitarian assistance to all those in need,” the statement read.
The Philippines also reaffirms its steadfast commitment to a “two-state solution” that addresses the rights and needs of both Palestinian and Israeli civilians, with the aim of achieving a just, lasting peace and security in the region,” the DFA said.
The war started on October 7, 2023, when Israel launched a devasting military campaign in retaliation against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, after it infiltrated Israel and killed civilians in their homes, in the streets and those attending a music festival, as well as troops in army bases.
