Eight Filipino sailors received a hero’s welcome in Manila after surviving a Houthi attack in the Red Sea, part of a campaign to pressure Israel over Gaza. Rising tensions have endangered sailors, with Houthis previously holding 17 Filipinos and killing two in a March attack.

Metro Manila

Israel and Iran have agreed a ceasefire after a twelve day conflict. Meanwhile, Israel strikes in Gaza continue with the humanitarian crisis deepening.

Middle East Conflict

Eight Filipino sailors were welcomed in Manila after surviving a Houthi attack in the Red Sea, part of ongoing efforts by the group to pressure Israel over the conflict in Gaza. The attack is one of several incidents that have endangered Filipino seafarers, who make up a significant portion of the global maritime workforce.

The situation underscores the broader risks faced by millions of Filipino migrant workers in conflict zones, particularly in the Middle East. Rights groups have urged the Philippine government to support calls for an end to regional wars, while officials remain focused on accounting for sailors still missing after recent attacks.

Filipino sailors heroically welcomed after Houthi Red Sea attack

A private, but a hero's welcome nevertheless in Manila, for eight Filipino sailors who survived one of the latest Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Part of a campaign, the rebels say, that aims to pressure Israel to end its war on Gaza. There's a lot of pride in the way they carry out their work, a lot of resilience, a lot of Filipino strength, fortitude, and should I say, the willpower, determination to survive. Commercial sailors are among millions of Filipinos who work abroad, and whose dollar remittances help keep the economy afloat. But rising geopolitical tensions are putting them at greater risk. Houthis held 17 Filipinos for more than a year, and two were killed when the armed group fired a missile at a cargo ship in March 2024. Most of the crew members of the NB Eternity Sea were Filipino, and while some have arrived safely here in Manila, more than half are still unaccounted for. The ordeal underscores the risk sailors face, particularly Filipinos who make up a third of the world's maritime workforce. But even more Filipinos on land are affected by current conflicts. About two million work in the Middle East. These photos were taken by a Filipina caregiver in Israel in the aftermath of an Iranian missile strike that took down her apartment building and killed a colleague. I'm living my second life, us survivors, this is our second chance at life, but it's still difficult to shake off all of the trauma. And even as Israel continues to bomb Gaza and Syria, most Filipino migrant workers in the region have opted to stay. Rights groups say the best way for the government to protect its citizens is to support calls for an end to the wars. It can send letters or diplomatic protests to the United States and Israel to stop its wars of aggression, bombings and attacks in sovereign countries that place Filipino migrant workers at risk. Unofficially, the Philippine government has called for restraint, but for now, officials say their immediate concern is to account for the sailors who are still missing. Barnabello, Al Jazeera, Manila.

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Filipino sailors heroically welcomed after Houthi Red Sea attack

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