A Filipina was among four people killed after a missile strike hit a residential building in Haifa, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Tuesday, April 7.
In a statement, the DFA said the Filipina died alongside her Israeli husband and elderly parents-in-law when the residence was struck on the evening of April 5.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs expresses deep sorrow over the death of a Filipina national who was killed in a missile attack on a residence in Haifa,” the agency said, noting that it has already informed the victim’s family and is extending assistance, including efforts to repatriate her remains “at the earliest possible time despite the current travel situation in the region.”
The DFA withheld her identity and appealed for privacy for the bereaved family.
Israeli authorities reported that the four victims were recovered from beneath the rubble after hours of search-and-rescue operations, following what local media described as a missile strike linked to Iran.
The fatality adds to the growing toll from the escalating conflict in the Gulf, triggered by strikes involving the United States and Israel against Iran. Data monitored by Al Jazeera showed the conflict has left thousands dead and tens of thousands injured across multiple countries in the region.
The Filipina’s death comes after the earlier reported killing of caregiver Mary Anne Velazquez de Vera, who died while assisting her patient to reach a bomb shelter in Israel.
With more than two million Filipinos living and working across Arab states, the Philippine government continues to brace for the wider impact of the conflict, including the possible repatriation of affected overseas workers and disruptions to global oil supply.
The ongoing crisis has also heightened concerns in Manila, as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s key oil routes—threaten fuel supply and prices in Asia.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a personal blog on Medium.