Mary Anne Velasquez de Vera, a 32-year-old Filipina caregiver from Basista, Pangasinan, has been identified as the first person killed in Israel during Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on February 28, 2026. She was killed while helping her elderly patient reach a bomb shelter — choosing to stay with the woman she cared for rather than flee to safety alone.
The Incident#
Late on Saturday night, an Iranian ballistic missile struck next to a residential building in Tel Aviv as part of a massive barrage launched during Operation Roaring Lion. De Vera, who lived with her elderly patient as a live-in caregiver, was critically injured by shrapnel while assisting the woman to a bomb shelter. They did not make it in time.
De Vera was found in critical condition and pronounced dead en route to the hospital. Her patient was rescued alive from the rubble, though also injured. In total, 27 other people were wounded in the strike, including seven children.
Her Story#
De Vera had been working in Israel since 2019, part of the tens of thousands of Filipino overseas workers (OFWs) who serve as caregivers across the country. Like many Filipina caregivers in Israel, she lived with her patient, providing round-the-clock care and companionship.
When the missiles began falling, she could have rushed to a shelter on her own. Instead, she stayed to help the elderly woman she looked after, trying to guide her to safety. It was an act of selflessness that cost her her life.
Her husband, also an OFW working in Israel, identified her remains through biometric records at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute.
Official Responses#
The Israeli Embassy in the Philippines issued a statement honoring de Vera: “Mary Ann, like so many overseas Filipino workers in Israel, exemplified resilience, compassion, and quiet strength.” The embassy called her death “a stark reminder that the Iranian regime continues to sow terror indiscriminately, targeting civilians without distinction.”
President Isaac Herzog personally called Philippine Ambassador Aileen Mendiola to offer his condolences on behalf of the State of Israel.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed de Vera’s death in a video message, explaining that she was helping her charge reach a bomb shelter when the missile struck. “She died from shrapnel from the falling bombs,” Marcos said, adding that her husband, also an OFW in Israel, had identified her. The Philippine government pledged full assistance to her family.
Filipino Caregivers in Israel#
De Vera’s death has highlighted the vital and often overlooked role that Filipino caregivers play in Israeli society. An estimated 30,000 Filipinos live and work in Israel, the majority employed as live-in caregivers for elderly and disabled Israelis. They are part of a broader population of over 61,000 legal migrant caregivers in the country.
Filipino caregivers have become deeply embedded in Israel’s eldercare system. The live-in care model means they share homes with their patients, forming close bonds that often go far beyond professional duty. During previous conflicts, many Filipino caregivers refused repatriation offers, choosing instead to stay with the patients who depended on them.
De Vera’s final act — staying with her patient when she could have saved herself — reflects the dedication that has earned Filipino caregivers deep respect in Israel. Her sacrifice is a reminder of the human cost borne by foreign workers who make their lives in conflict zones, far from their own families, caring for other people’s loved ones.
Sources: Times of Israel, GMA News, ABS-CBN News
