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The Philippines would have voted in favor of the United Nations resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war had it mentioned and condemned the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that killed more than 1,400 people in Israel, including four Filipinos and other foreigners, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Saturday.

The Philippines was one of the 45 countries, which included Canada, Australia and Ukraine, that abstained from voting on the resolution during the emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Friday.

More balance

鈥淏ecause of this attack, we recognize Israel鈥檚 right to self-defense, as provided for under article 51 of the UN Charter, reflected in the resolution,鈥� Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, the permanent representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, said in his speech to the assembly.

The resolution was supported by 120 countries, which voted in favor, with 14 others voting against it.

鈥淲e supported Canada鈥檚 proposal to achieve more balance in the draft, with a factual reference to, and condemnation of, the 7 October terrorist attacks by Hamas that killed many innocent civilians, including Filipinos working and living in Israel,鈥� the DFA said in a statement.

The DFA said 88 countries backed Ottawa but they were eight votes short to have made 鈥渢his critical element鈥� included in the resolution.

鈥楪rave concern鈥�

鈥淭he UN resolution adopted on Oct. 28 called an 鈥渋mmediate humanitarian truce鈥� leading to the 鈥渃essation of hostilities,鈥� the assurance of the safe passage of humanitarian aid into Palestine, and the 鈥渋mmediate and unconditional release of all civilians who are being illegally held captive鈥� but it did not specifically mention the hostages taken by Hamas.

It condemned the 鈥渁cts of terrorism and indiscriminate attacks鈥� against civilians but only expressed 鈥済rave concern鈥� over the 鈥渓atest escalation of violence鈥� that started with Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

On Oct. 11, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo condemned the 鈥渢errorism and violence鈥� that resulted from the Hamas attack. President Marcos last week, said that he hoped all the parties concerned would work to 鈥渄eescalate鈥� the violence.

More than 7,000 people, many of them children, have been killed in Gaza due to continuing bombardments by Israel.

The DFA said it would continue to support UN efforts 鈥渢o decisively put a stop鈥� to the rising deaths and suffering in Gaza and Israel and provide humanitarian assistance to those in need, and restore peace and normalcy to millions affected by the crisis.