PINOY FREED BY HAMAS TO GET LIFETIME SUPPORT FROM ISRAELI GOV’T

THE Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv on Sunday said that the Filipino worker freed by the Palestinian militant group Hamas is set to receive social security benefits and regular stipends from the Israeli government.

Jimmy Pacheco , the 33-year-old Filipino caregiver working in Israel, was among the hostages released to the Red Cross in war-torn Gaza by Hamas Friday, according to Qatar, which mediated the deal.

Pachecho was among the more than 200 people taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attack.

The Embassy said the Israeli government “will provide Pacheco and his immediate family lifetime social security benefits and regular stipends” similar to those given to Israelis.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen visited Pacheco at the hospital where he is recovering.

The Embassy earlier said that the Pinoy caregiver was “in high spirits” and appeared “to be in good health” after his release.

Meanwhile, Filipina Noralyn Babadilla remains missing, and is believed to be among the hostages of Hamas.

Earlier, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day ceasefire, expected to begin November 23, after seven weeks of intense bombardment of the Gaza Strip following Hamas’s attack on Israel that killed thousands of innocent people and taking more than 200 captives.

The arrangement is an exchange of 50 Israeli hostages taken on October 7 for 150 Palestinian prisoners.