MANILA – The Philippine government has not put a “travel ban” on Israel amidst fighting between Israeli military forces and the Hamas.
In a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo De Vega said that there is no travel ban on Israel but advises travellers to postpone their trips due to the situation in Israel.
“We haven’t put a travel ban on Israel. But our embassy has issued a travel advisory, so as much as possible, avoid traveling right now,” De Vega said.
De Vega added that it is still best to schedule travels to Israel on a much later date until all hostilities have ended, especially those who have already booked airfare and trips to the famous Holy Land.
“We are not telling you, not to go. But, we are advising you, that it’s best, if possible to postpone them until we are absolutely sure that hostilities have ended because, after all, even the Prime Minister of Israel has said that we are in a state of war. So, it’s not normal for somebody who wants to visit a country, which is in a state of war,” De Vega said.
Tour packages to the Holy Land are popular among Filipino Catholics, such as visits to holy sites in Jerusalem, which is an hour’s drive from Tel Aviv, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Masada National Park, Lower Galilee, the Dead Sea, Acre and Caesarea.
In the meantime, Israel will remain under Alert Level 1 or precautionary phase, according to a separate advisory released on Tuesday by the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo Jr. said that this is based on the assessment of the Israeli government, security authorities and what is happening “on the ground”, therefore the recommendation of the Embassy to maintain the said alert status.
Laylo also said that there is no prohibition on movement in Israel, except in specific areas of conflict or within the vicinity of the Gaza border.
He also made the assurance that security forces have already regained control of some of the affected areas in the southern part of Israel as of Monday and that Israel Defense Forces and the Home Front Command have established protocols for evacuating not only its nationals, but also anyone in Israel regardless of nationality.
