Remembering Leah Mosquera: A Victim of Unwarranted Strikes

Consul Mote Cohen paid respect to the late Leah Mosquera on her supposed 50th birthday, instead of a celebration filled with laughter and joy, it was a somber affair with a representative from the Israeli embassy. Mosquera, a Filipina caregiver hailing from a peaceful rice farming community in Barangay Guinturilan, San Enrique, Negros Occidental, tragically lost her life during the Israel-Iran conflict when a missile hit her residential space in Rehovot, a city situated towards the south of Tel Aviv.

Leah Mosquera was an innocent caught in the middle of the fierce 12-day battle between Israel and Iran, losing her life to circumstances beyond her control. The missile attack on her home in Rehovot on the fateful day of June 15 left her in a comatose state from which she never woke.

On July 13, just a few weeks short of her golden jubilee birthday on June 29, Mosquera breathed her last in an Israeli hospital. The day after what would have been a celebration of her life, Consul Mote Cohen made his way from the Israeli embassy in Manila to Leah’s family home.

Cohen arrived with some solace for the grieving family. His mission? Not only to extend condolences, but to assure that Leah’s life and untimely death held meaning to the Israeli government. There was no disparity in the benefits awarded to an Israeli citizen and what would be given to a foreign national such as Leah, he emphasized.

In more detail, he explained that any harms inflicted by acts of terror were treated with the same seriousness, regardless of the person’s nationality. Cohen expressed this sentiment without revealing exact monetary details. Leah, referred to as ‘Yumo’ by her family, was crushed under her apartment’s debris after the missile strike. She was rushed to the hospital in a coma, and then, on July 13, she passed away almost a month after the devastating incident.

On July 24, Leah’s remains made the journey back home from Israel, escorted by her younger sister, Mae Joy, who also serves as a caregiver in Israel. The Israeli government bore the costs of their journey. The visit of Consul Mote Cohen was indeed a balm to the wounded hearts of the Mosqueras as his very presence signified that Leah’s 18 years of work in Israel was appreciated and recognized.

Moreover, Leah’s untiring service was recognized not only by Israel, but also by her home province. The Negros Occidental provincial government extended a helping hand to the Mosqueras, providing PhP 190,000 to the bereaved family.

Adding to this, the local government of San Enrique where the Mosqueras are well-respected rice farmers in the community, also offered assistance in their hour of need. During a personal meeting with Lacson in Bacolod City, Consul Mote Cohen assured that life had resumed its usual rhythm in Israel after the 12 days of tumultuous conflict.

Consul Mote Cohen made it clear to the parties concerned that the safety of Filipino workers in Israel remained intact even after the hostile exchange. About 30,000 Filipino workers, mostly caregivers like Leah and Mae Joy, continued to live and work in Israel. Among these, more than 200 hailed from Leah’s province, Negros Occidental.

Going by Consul Cohen’s account, sorrow weighed heavy over the unwarranted violence, especially given that Israel focused its strikes on Iran’s military installations while Iran’s targets were largely civilian. The offensive resulted in the death of 30 individuals, including a Ukrainian, Leah Mosquera, and 28 Israelis.

Leah Mosquera became a symbolic figure, bringing to light the tragic consequences of violence on ordinary citizens and the unforeseen dangers faced by hardworking migrants in conflict-prone regions. Her loss was felt viscerally not only by her family and her home country but crucially by Israelis as a sobering reminder of the cost of conflict.

The collective acknowledgment and support extended by both the local and Israeli governments serve to remind us of the important roles played by caregivers like Leah in foreign countries. These diligent workers dedicate their lives overseas to provide better living standards for their loved ones back home, often under challenging and unpredictable circumstances.

Leah’s story underscores the imperative for governments around the world to prioritize the health and safety of all their residents – whether citizens or non-citizens. In the face of such calamitous events, it is essential that people of all nationalities receive fair and equitable treatment from the governments where they reside.

Ultimately, the sobering tale of Leah Mosquera serves as a rallying call for unity, compassion and action among diverse global communities. It urges a renewed commitment to protecting the lives and livelihoods of all individuals, especially those caught up in zones of conflict, and stresses the importance of shared responsibility towards the protection and safety of every life.