Metro Manila, November 24 ------ The 17 Filipino seafarers taken hostage by Yemen’s Houthi rebels are safe and will hopefully be freed soon as the Israel and Hamas’ deal for a four-day truce takes effect, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. “It should do some positive notes if it works out because the Houthi rebels have assured, from what we understand, they have spoken to the crewmen who were taken of all countries to assure them… that they will not be harmed. It’s time for diplomacy to work,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
The Filipino seafarers are part of the 25 crew members taken hostage by the Houthi on Nov. 19. The group allegedly backed by Iran has said it will attack all ships belonging to Israel. Israel has denied any connection to the vessel. De Vega said all indications show the Filipinos are not being harmed by the rebels, and one of the Filipino crew was even able to contact his family.
The DFA official added they are reaching out to governments to hopefully talk to the rebels. Meanwhile, two Filipinos remain missing after the Hamas' surprise attack against Israel in October. De Vega said one of them is a male who is likely among those taken hostage. The other one is a female who was either taken by the Hamas or killed during the Oct. 7 attack. CNN reported that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day truce in exchange for the militant group’s release of at least 50 women and children hostages.
The DFA official said they told Israeli authorities that they hope Filipinos will be among those released first if a deal is made. More hostages could be released if the truce continues beyond four days, he added.
Source: cnnphilippines.com
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