MANILA — The Israeli government has promised support to the family of Mary Ann de Vera, a Filipino caregiver who died in a missile strike resulting from Iran’s retaliation.
During a press conference in Taguig City on Tuesday, Israel’s Ambassador Dana Kursh reassured the public that her government would provide necessary assistance to De Vera’s loved ones.
“Israel will embrace this family and ensure they receive all the help needed to cope with this tragedy,” she said.
Under local regulations, any person harmed by acts of war or terrorism—whether local or foreign—is entitled to assistance. In the event of death, surviving relatives are eligible for livelihood benefits.
“Mary Ann’s family will receive this support. It won’t bring her back, nor erase their pain, but it can help manage daily challenges,” Kursh noted.
The ambassador also confirmed that Israel would support the repatriation of De Vera’s remains when the country’s airspace reopens.
De Vera was assisting her elderly ward to reach safety in Tel Aviv when she was hit by shrapnel from an Iranian missile strike, a response to the US-Israel joint attack on Tehran.
She is the fifth Filipino to lose their life in Israel since the Hamas attacks in October 2023.
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