The United States House of Representatives approved a $14.3 billion military aid package for Israel while Israel was engaged in an ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip.

The legislation, known as the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act 2024, passed the House with a vote of 226-196, largely along party lines.

However, it is expected to face significant challenges in the Democratic-controlled Senate and has been threatened with a presidential veto by Joe Biden.

President Biden expressed dissatisfaction with the bill, as it fell short of the over $105 billion in supplemental funding he had requested from Congress in late October.

The Senate is likely to push for a more comprehensive spending package, which includes not only aid to Israel but also $61 billion in new funding for Ukraine, additional resources for border security, and other policy priorities.

A portion of the funding, over $9 billion, is allocated for humanitarian assistance projects, including those in Gaza.

The allocation for Ukraine has been a contentious issue in the House, with an increasing number of Republicans opposing additional funding for Kyiv.

The United States currently provides Israel with approximately $3.8 billion in military aid annually.

The new funding is intended for replacing previously supplied arms to Israel, restocking Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling air and missile defense systems, and supporting the development of the Iron Beam laser air defense system.

In addition to the military aid, the House bill includes cuts to funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the US tax authority, which the Congressional Budget Office has warned could add $26 billion to the national debt rather than reduce it.

It’s worth noting that the United States provides the highest level of military aid to Israel compared to any other country in the world.

(Sourced online by JR AMIGO/ai/mnm)

In a press conference on Friday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. disclosed that Israel has pledged its support to facilitate the departure of Filipinos from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, with the evacuation expected to occur by either Friday or Saturday, ensuring their safe relocation to Egypt.

The commitment was established following a meeting between Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo Jr. and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, as announced by President Marcos at the Malacañan Palace in Manila.

President Marcos stated, “They have given us their assurance that Filipinos will be allowed to depart either today or tomorrow and at the latest, by Saturday.”

He continued, “This is the latest information I received this morning from our Secretary of the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), and I hope it becomes a reality soon so we can facilitate the departure of those who wish to leave and bring them back safely to our homeland.”

Marcos affirmed that the Philippine Embassy in Cairo is fully prepared to provide support to Filipinos who will cross the Rafah border and ultimately be repatriated. Additionally, he mentioned that the Philippine government has extended its assistance to other Southeast Asian nations whose citizens are also stranded in the Gaza Strip.

Concerning the situation, Marcos expressed, “I know many people are concerned about our Filipino nationals in Gaza, in the middle of the conflict. We received reports that those in Gaza are still unable to exit through the Rafah crossing, and some are questioning why. Unfortunately, it is beyond our control. It is a matter between the Israelis and the Palestinians.”

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, there are currently 134 Filipinos in the Gaza Strip, with 115 of them awaiting permission to cross the border.

President Marcos acknowledged that some Filipinos, particularly those married to Palestinians, are grappling with the decision of whether to leave Gaza. He explained, “There is a complication as well because some of the Filipino nationals are women who are married to Palestinians. Palestinians are not permitted to leave.”

He added, “Many of them are undecided about whether they want to leave or not because, of course, they do not want to leave their spouses and their children.”

(ai/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

The government of Egypt has vowed to prioritize Filipinos to move out of Gaza amid the raging Israel-Hamas war as soon as the Rafah border opens a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said Friday.

Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said that the Rafah border is the crossing near Egypt which is the safest way out for Filipinos trapped in Gaza.

“Kinausap ko ang ambassador ng Egypt kahapon at sinabi ng kanilang pamahalaan na bibigyan ng priority ang mga Pilipinong lulusot. Pangako niya ‘yan na bibigyan tayo ng priority sa border,” De Vega said in a radio interview.

De Vega said that he was unable to provide an exact schedule for the opening of the border at this time but that it may happen “within the next 24 hours” or “any day now.”

“Kung hindi man, well at least may positive news tayo na naguusap ang mga pamahalaan. Kasi kung hindi makalabas [ang foreign nationals], eh parang hindi successful ang diplomatic approach ng Presidente ng United States of America,” he added.

Earlier, the Philippines placed Gaza under alert level 4, making it mandatory for Filipinos to evacuate.

(ai/mnm)

In response to the dire situation in Gaza, Pope Francis made a plea for all parties involved to disarm during his weekly General Audience on October 18, 2023.

He expressed deep concern about the escalating crisis and emphasized the need to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.

The Pope stressed that war doesn’t offer solutions but instead results in death, destruction, increased hatred, and a cycle of revenge.

He underscored the importance of choosing the path of peace.

These remarks followed a deadly airstrike on a Gaza hospital the previous day, which resulted in hundreds of casualties.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza had its origins in actions by both Hamas and the Israeli military. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to alleviate the suffering caused by the conflict.

The casualty figures stand at more than 3,300 Palestinians and over 1,400 people in Israel.

(ai/mnm)

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has ordered the mandatory evacuation of Filipinos in Gaza after raising the alert level to 4.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the public that due to the current situation in Gaza, we have placed Gaza under Alert Level 4 (Mandatory Repatriation),” the DFA said in a statement on Sunday.

The DFA said that of the 131 Filipinos in Gaza, at least 78 are situated near the Rafah border crossing near Egypt while the rest left the northern part, which is expected to be the main site of hostilities.

“The Philippine government continues to work on the repatriation of our nationals and will provide updates on developments,” the DFA said.

In a separate Viber message, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said that with the raising of the alert level, the government is now “calling on our nationals to leave.”

“If they stay, they do so at their own very grave risk,” de Vega said.

Israel’s army earlier ordered all Palestinians to vacate the northern part of Gaza and Gaza City within 24 hours.

Reports said Israel is preparing a ground offensive on the besieged enclave.

(ai/mnm)