Citizens' concerns about Singapore Airshow 2024

by Ngiang

I write to you as a Singaporean who is deeply concerned with the ongoing devastation in Gaza perpetrated by Israel.

I have written before to several organizations and members of parliament to express my discontent with the Singapore Airshow 2024 exhibition of several weapons manufacturers who are heavily involved in enabling the obliteration of life in Gaza.

Israel's military campaign in Gaza has been decried by many to be potentially genocidal; they have committed documented war crimes such as targeting civilians, journalists, healthcare workers, and essential infrastructure; they have deliberately withheld humanitarian aid; they have violated and continue to violate international humanitarian law with impunity. With the latest airstrikes on Rafah, where some 1.4 million people are seeking shelter, and where Israel herded civilians to seek shelter, Israel continues to demonstrate a shocking disregard for Palestinian lives.

The Israeli companies I have named are Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems, Tomer, SIBAT, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems - 4 of whom are state-owned. These companies have advertised their weapons as 'battle-tested', a grisly euphemism for the fact that their military systems and weapons are tested on Palestinians before being exported around the world for profit.

The other companies I have named are BAE Systems, Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman - all of whom have knowingly supplied Israel with the weapons and aircraft used to terrorize civilians in Gaza. In fact, General Dynamics' chief financial officer and executive vice president, Jason Aiken, has tastelessly commented on the 'incremental demand potential' coming out of Gaza.

Even more disturbingly, Elbit Systems has advertised on its website that it will be presenting 'Iron Sting' at Singapore Airshow 2024, a precision-guided munition that it describes as having "a combat-proven capability, currently used in the October 7th war". Sir, this is blatant lauding of a weapon that is currently being used to massacre men, women, and children in Gaza. I do not think I am alone in feeling physically nauseous when I think of armaments like this being showcased at our Singapore Airshow.

Several aerial and static displays at the Airshow will also be showcasing the drones and aircraft that the above companies manufacture - many of which are used to kill hundreds of civilians in Gaza daily. These include the F15 fighter aircraft, AH-64D Apache helicopter, CH-47F helicopter (Boeing); the F16 fighter aircraft (Lockheed Martin), and Hermes 450 drone (Elbit systems).

These will be showcased during Weekend@Airshow, which is open to the public, and advertised as a family event. By exhibiting and celebrating armaments used to decimate entire multigenerational families in clear violation of international humanitarian law - what is the message that we are sending to our society?

Singapore has previously backed UN resolutions that called for a ceasefire and humanitarian assistance. Our nation has also expressed its determination to maintain a balanced and neutral stance in this war.

I call upon you as readers of Gutzy Asia. Please work to cover the concerns many citizens have about the airshow, as shown above. Call upon the relevant authorities to disinvite the above ten companies and cease any showcase of armaments currently used to flatten Gaza and terrorize innocents, until Israel complies with international humanitarian law.

There is no place for anyone who stands for brutality, apartheid, and genocide, in our nation.