MANILA (3rd UPDATE) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday declared Alert Level 4 over Gaza which means evacuation is mandatory for Filipinos there.

The raising of the alert level in Gaza City to 4 comes as Israel prepares for a ground offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza, a blockaded and militarized Palestinian territory.

• DFA places Gaza Strip under Alert Level 3, calls for voluntary repatriation

"Ibig sabihin ng mandatory hindi 'yung pupuntahan namin kayo tapos hahatakin lumabas. Pero sinasabihan na namin sa inyo lumikas na kayo. At kung maiwan kayo we can’t stop you, we cannot prevent it," DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

(Mandatory does not mean that we will go to you and then drag you out. But we are telling you to evacuate. And if you are left we can't stop you, we cannot prevent it.)

"Nasa inyo na 'yan kung may mangyari sa inyo. Kasi gegerahin na sila ng Israel," he added.

(It's up to you if something happens to you. Because Israel will attack them.)

Watch more News on iWantTFC

In a statement Sunday afternoon, the DFA said at least 78 of the 131 Filipinos accounted for in Gaza "are now situated near the Rafah border crossing near Egypt."

"All the rest have left northern Gaza or Gaza City, which is expected to be the main site for hostilities."

De Vega said the Philippine government would not be able to assist Filipinos in Gaza City if the situation worsens further.

"We're ready pero walang makapasok o makalabas pa sa Gaza," he also said. He said once the crossing opens, government officials will bring the Filipinos to Cairo and then back to the Philippines.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in a statement posted on Sunday night, urged Filipinos in Gaza to avail of the repatriation for their safety.

“Under this heightened alert, we strongly urge repatriation from Gaza for the safety of our citizens,” he said.

He also assured the public that the government will ensure the safety of the Filipinos in Gaza and bring them back home safely.

“We are committed to making every possible effort to bring our kababayans out of harm's way and reunite them with their families back home. We will continue to provide updates on the situation,” Marcos added.

Over a million people in the northern part of the crowded enclave have been ordered to flee ahead of the expected assault, an exodus that aid groups said would set off a humanitarian disaster.

• Speedy repatriation of OFWs in Israel-Hamas war urged

Watch more News on iWantTFC

FIRST BATCH OF REPATRIATION

Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is moving to repatriate over 8 Filipinos from Tel Aviv, which was also attacked by Hamas militants in recent days.

De Vega said the Filipinos — some of whom lost their jobs partly due to the conflict — are expected to arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday, October 17.

At least 22 of the over 30,000 Filipinos currently in Israel have expressed their intention to go back to the Philippines, De Vega previously said.

• PH to repatriate first batch of Filipinos from Israel on Oct. 16

At least 3 Filipinos have been killed in the conflict, while 3 remain missing.

Filipinos in Israel may get in touch with the embassy in Tel Aviv through +972-544-661-188 for assistance.

Those in Gaza may reach the embassy in Jordan through +962-779-077-775.

• Biden stresses civilian protection amid Gaza seige, condemns Hamas
• PH to repatriate first batch of Filipinos from Israel on Oct. 16
• Israel-Hamas conflict robs Filipino caregiver of chance to meet his first child

—with a report from Agence France-Presse

Watch more News on iWantTFC