- Latest group of 14 Filipinos, 2 Palestinians evacuated from Gaza to Egypt on Saturday
- Philippine authorities have not been in touch with the nun since December
A Catholic nun who has categorically refused to leave her church in Gaza is the only remaining Philippine national in the besieged enclave, Manila’s envoy in Jordan said on Monday, after authorities evacuated 14 nationals from the city of Rafah.
A group of 14 Filipinos and 2 Palestinians were evacuated on Saturday from Gaza to Egypt through the crossing at Rafah, authorities said late on Sunday, as Israeli attacks continue on the city where more than 1.5 million people are sheltering.
Mass evacuations of foreigners from Gaza took place in November, but movement has been limited since then as Israel regularly shelled cars, including ambulances, and individuals trying to reach the border.
Philippine authorities have now evacuated all but one of the 137 Filipinos known to have been in Gaza, with the latest group scheduled to leave Cairo on Tuesday.
The last remaining Philippine national is a 63-year-old Catholic nun from the Missionaries of Charity, who earlier refused to leave her church in the enclave. Authorities previously said that she was unreachable and that their last contact with her was in December.
“We received information that the church she is staying in Gaza City is still standing. The church is still holding masses for the parishioners,” Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos, who has coordinated evacuation efforts, told Arab News on Monday.
“All indications are that the Filipino nun is safe but has decided to stay and complete her mission in Gaza … She is the only Filipino remaining in Gaza.”
Rafah is Gaza’s southernmost city and was previously designated as a “safe zone” as Israel began its military operation in October in the north of the territory. It became the last refuge for Palestinians forced to flee Israel’s deadly attacks, but has come under a wave of air raids and intensifying artillery fire in recent weeks as the government of Benjamin Netanyahu announced troops would advance on the city.
UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said Rafah is “severely overcrowded,” with Palestinians trapped in dense clusters within the limited spaces not filled with debris or being targeted by Israeli bombs.
Over 28,900 people have been killed and 68,800 others injured during four months of Israel’s ongoing deadly onslaught on Gaza, according to local authorities.
UN agencies fear the real toll is much higher as thousands of people remain trapped under the rubble and the wounded cannot seek help as Israeli forces have destroyed the majority of medical facilities.
