In a significant development, Israel’s Cabinet has given the green light to a ceasefire agreement with the Hamas militant group, marking a temporary cessation of the prolonged conflict that has endured for over six weeks.

As part of the agreement, Hamas has committed to releasing 50 of the approximately 240 hostages currently held in the Gaza Strip.

The release is scheduled to take place over four days, with the Israeli government announcing its intention to extend the ceasefire by an additional day for every 10 hostages set free.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ahead of the Cabinet vote on Wednesday morning, affirmed that Israel would resume its offensive against Hamas once the ceasefire period concludes. The specific commencement date of the truce is yet to be clarified.

(ai/mnm/sourced online)

ASEAN has called for an immediate cessation of violence in the Israel-Hamas crisis.

In a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of its 10 member countries, ASEAN strongly condemned the acts of violence in the region, which have resulted in the loss of life and injuries to civilians, including Filipino and Thai nationals.

The organization urged an immediate end to violence to prevent further human casualties and emphasized the importance of respecting International Humanitarian Law. They also called on all parties to facilitate safe, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian corridors.

Furthermore, ASEAN reaffirmed its support for a negotiated two-state solution, allowing Israelis and Palestinians to coexist in peace and security in line with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

They stressed that this remains the most viable path to address the root causes of the conflict.

The organization also called on the international community to support the peace process to ensure long-lasting peace and stability in the region.

This statement comes amid a two-week-long escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, resulting in the loss of thousands of civilian lives, including children, medical personnel, and journalists. (ai/mnm)

By Liza Soriano

Senator Francis Tolentino said that the country needs to implement quality Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) taking a cue from the raging Israel-Hamas war but he made it a point that it’s about patriotism and not war pandering.

Tolentino said that in the most recent hostilities in Gaza, Israel mobilized their 300,000 ROTC reservists in the war against Hamas.

“Siguro, mas ano, mas naha-highlight ‘yung need for a quality ROTC program. Kasi kung makikita mo ‘yung sa Israel 300,000 ‘yung minobilize na ROTC reservists nila,” the senator said.

However, the lawmaker emphasized that he is not war pandering, rather it is to prepare the youth for them to imbibe a deeper meaning of patriotism.

“It’s not about war. It’s about patriotism,” Tolentino said.

Following the simultaneous strikes by Hamas on October 7 that resulted in more than 1,000 fatalities, the Israeli military had claimed it called up to 300,000 reservists.

The Senate’s measure mandating the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps for students in technical-vocational and higher education institutions is currently up for discussion in the full Senate.

(ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

CONCERNED THAT CIVILIANS, SPECIALLY CHILDREN, are caught in the crossfire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas armed conflict, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has urged Filipinos to call for a ceasefire and peaceful negotiations amid the escalating violence in the Middle East.

In a video message, Duterte on Thursday, October 19, expressed concern the conflict in the region has impacted civilians, including children.

“Ako ay nananawagan sa aking mga kapwa Pilipino na ipahayag ang isang tigil-putukan at dalhin ang usapin ng kapayapaan sa mesa,” Duterte said.

At the same time, she called for unity among the parties in the country in issuing a collective appeal for lasting peace in the region to end the suffering of civilians.

“Ating ipanawagan ang pagkakaisa ng mga partido upang maglabas ng kolektibong pananawagan para sa pangmatagalang kapayapaan at wakasan ang pagdurusa at kahirapan na nararanasan ng mga sibilyan lalo na ang pangangalaga sa kapakanan ng mga bata,” the VPES further said.

Israel’s latest assault on Gaza began after fighters from Hamas, the Palestinian armed resistance movement governing the occupied Strip, launched a surprise attack on October 7 just outside the besieged enclave on Israeli territory.

(ai/mnm)

By Liza Soriano

MANILA  — Senator Raffy Tulfo on Thursday made a commitment that he would provide assistance to the affected Filipinos in the Israel-Hamas war.

Tulfo  met with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs along with some lawmakers at the DFA Central Office to discuss the current situation of Filipinos in Israel.

Among those who attended the meeting were DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo, Usec. Eduardo de Vega of Migrant Workers Affairs, Usec. Maria Theresa Lazaro of Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs, Asec. Mardomel Melicor of the Middle East and African Affairs, Pampanga Second District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, OFW Partylist Marissa Rep. “Del Mar” Magsino, KABAYAN Partylist Rep. Ron Salo and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro.

Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo Jr., Ambassador to Lebanon Raymond Balatbat, Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos, Ambassador to Egypt Ezzedin Tago, and Charge d’affaires to Syria John Reyes also joined the meeting virtually.

“Patuloy pa rin ang close monitoring sa mga Filipino community sa mga lugar na apektado ng giyera kabilang na ang Israel, Gaza at West bank pati ang mga kalapit na bansa. May contingency plan na din ang gobyerno sakaling mas lumala ang sitwasyon sa rehiyon,” Tulfo said.

There were some OFWs who had already expressed their interest in returning to the Philippines due to the war in the said country.

Among these were the 16 OFWs, along with one infant, who arrived on October 18 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. They were welcomed by Tulfo at the airport.

“Gagawin ang lahat ng gobyerno para masigurong ligtas at maayos na makakabalik ang mga OFW dito sa Pilipinas. May mga ayuda ring ibibigay para sa mga  nakabalik na sa bansa at scholarship mula sa TESDA para sa kanilang mga anak,” he said

“Puspusan din na nagtratrabaho ang Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) at Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) para sa repatriation ng mga Pinoy sa Israel,” he added.

(ai/mnm)