Eyes are on an overseas Filipino worker in Israel who is earning recognition for her courageous and selfless act.
On October 26, 2023, Aviva Klompas, a former speechwriter for Israeli delegates to the United Nations and a communication strategist for various Jewish communities globally, shared the uplifting story of Camille Jesalva on X (formerly Twitter).
Camille, 31, serves as the caregiver for Nitza Hefetz, 95, residing in Kibbutz Nirim in the northwestern Negev desert near the Gaza Strip.
On October 7, 2023, the area witnessed an incursion by the Islamic terrorist group Hamas, which resulted in a series of retaliatory attacks between Israel and Hamas.
According to Aviva, Camille was with Nitza when Hamas militants forcibly entered their home, exposing them to immediate danger or the risk of being taken hostage.
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To cease the situation from escalating, the Filipino caregiver took it upon herself to sacrifice her savings, all USD370 (PHP21,000) of it, by offering it to one of the gunmen.
It was revealed that Camille had been saving that amount to give to her family in the Philippines for when she returns.
Prior to their home invasion, Camille had already booked a flight to the Philippines on October 9.
This was her plan to reunite with her seven-year-old son, whom she had been separated from for nearly two years.
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"An angel"
In a report by The Times of Israel, Nitza's daughter, Yael Arieli, called Camille an angel and thanked her for saving her mother.
The mother of-one decided to stay in Israel to continue tending to Nitza, but still has her hopes up about returning to the Philippines in a month, the report added.
Meanwhile, media analyst Emmanuel Miller related that the story has touched thousands of Israelis.
He wrote that the Israelis (published as is) "deeply appreciate the kindness and humanity of a person caught up in an awful situation that has little to do with them, yet decided to make the choice to act with true love."
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