Filipino soldier killed in Gaza blast

MANILA, Philippines — An Israel Defense Forces soldier of Filipino descent was among 21 IDF members killed in a massive explosion in Gaza on Monday, according to the Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv.

Sgt. First Class Cydrick Garin, 23, was from San Mateo, Rizal and spent most of his life in Israel.

He died along with 20 other IDF soldiers when a massive explosion caused a building to collapse on them, bringing to 219 the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza.

Garin was a combat sergeant in the 8208th Battalion of the 261st Bsrigade.

In April 2021, he received recognition from the Southern Command as an outstanding soldier in the Givati Brigade.

His mother, a native of Isabela, resides in Tel Aviv while his father is from General Santos City.

The Israeli embassy in Manila said it is facilitating the travel of Garin’s father to Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday vowed that Israel would not stop fighting in Gaza until “absolute victory” after it sustained its highest single-day death toll in the Palestinian enclave.