(UPDATE) THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has imposed a total ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to conflict-hit areas in Israel, citing dangers from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict that erupted on Saturday with the surprise attack by the Palestinian Islamist group on civilians in southern Israel.

'No deployment as of now,' Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Officer in Charge Leo Hans Cacdac said on Tuesday, adding that the focus for now is on the security of Filipinos in Israel, particularly in the Gaza Strip and Tel Aviv.