A Filipina was killed alongside her Israeli husband and his elderly parents in a missile strike on a residential building in Haifa, Israel, on the evening of April 5, 2026. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed she is the first Filipino casualty in the Gulf war escalation. The DFA expressed deep sorrow and pledged assistance to her family.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed deep sorrow over the death of a Filipina national killed in a missile attack on a residence in Haifa, Israel, on the evening of April 5, 2026. She died alongside her Israeli husband and his elderly parents-in-law, the DFA said in a statement on Tuesday, April 7.
Four people were killed in the strike, which Israeli media reported as an Iranian missile hitting a residential building in the port city of Haifa. The bodies were recovered from beneath the rubble after hours of intensive search-and-rescue operations, the Israeli military said on April 6.
Mary Anne Velazquez de Vera, a Filipina caregiver, was the first confirmed Filipino death in the war escalation triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran. The DFA did not disclose her identity to respect her family's privacy but said its Tel Aviv post has informed relatives and will assist with repatriation of her remains despite regional travel issues.
The DFA joined the Filipino community in praying for her eternal rest and strength for her family amid this profound loss. Over two million Filipinos live in Arab nations, and Manila is preparing repatriation and support services for affected workers.
