Halimah Yacob speaks out on Gaza crisis: ‘Degradation of the human soul’

SINGAPORE: Former President of Singapore, Mdm Halimah Yacob, has once again addressed the ongoing crisis in Gaza, sharing her thoughts on the matter through a Facebook post.

In a post from October last year, Mdm Halimah expressed her concern and condemnation for the situation in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for international intervention.

She reiterated her stance in a December post, urging individuals to align themselves with the cause of humanity.

Mdm Halimah passionately called on people to “stand on the side of humanity,” delving into the profound implications of the ongoing conflicts.

In her most recent Facebook post on Monday (26 Feb), Mdm Halimah commented on the disturbing nature of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, with the death toll rising to almost 30,000 civilians, mostly women and children.

“The degradation of the human soul,” Mdm Halimah remarked, citing instances such as the destruction of infrastructure and civilians being bombed in Rafah after being told to evacuate by the Israel Defence Force (IDF).

Mdm Halimah emphasized the blatant degradation of the human soul when food trucks promised safe passage into Gaza were bombed.

She pointed out images of IDF soldiers taking inappropriate actions after destroying Palestinian homes, as well as grandmothers and mothers proudly declaring on camera that they would prevent food trucks from reaching the vulnerable population.

Mdm Halimah noted that our natural instincts are to protect the weakest and most vulnerable among us.

Expressing deep concern, she questioned “What’s happened to the human soul? After this is over, will the same people be able to live with their consciences knowing that they contributed to the deaths and destruction of thousands of innocent lives?”

Mdm Halimah also noted that the degradation of the human soul is evident as the world struggles with ceasefire efforts.

She stated that international laws have become “irrelevant” and the consensus established to prevent atrocities after World War 2 has been severely compromised.

Concluding her post, Mdm Halimah called on readers to “stand on the side of humanity,” declaring that the world is forever changed.

Netizens support grows for Mdm Halimah’s stance on Gaza crisis

Under Mdm Halimah’s Facebook post, numerous individuals expressed gratitude for her vocal stance on the ongoing issue.

One user commented, expressing appreciation for Mdm Halimah’s stance and urging leaders to take more significant actions to halt the ongoing atrocities.

The user expressed concern over Singapore sending an ambassador to Israel amid the genocide, urging leaders to exhibit moral courage in acknowledging the unacceptability of such actions.

Another user acknowledged Singapore’s historic relationship with Israel.

However, the user suggested that it might be necessary to reconsider this relationship in light of Israel’s current behavior.

The user stressed the importance of not supporting depravity through silence or adherence to the status quo, advocating for a firmer stance from Singapore.

A different user commended Mdm Halimah’s words, stating that they resonate deeply and align with the priority of humanity.

Expressing dismay at the decline of human spirit in the face of violence and destruction, the user expressed a genuine hope that Mdm Halimah’s message would inspire more individuals to speak up for humanity, promoting peace, understanding, and the creation of a kinder and harmonious world.

Netizens express concerns over Singapore’s education approach to Israel-Hamas conflict

Several users brought up the recent issue involving Singapore’s Minister of Education (MOE), who incorporated the Israel-Hamas conflict into Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lessons.

One user expressed concern, stating that being good citizens doesn’t mean they will remain silent when the Singapore government crosses the line.

The user expressed concern that indoctrinating students could potentially lead to racial disharmony, undermining the collective efforts made over the years.

The user emphasized that being partial is one thing, but attempting to alter history is a different matter.

“If the Muslim community starts losing faith in the government then you don’t blame us but your own doings,” stated the user.

Another user suggested that Mdm Halimah would have been a better fit to lead the MOE.

They argued that even if her words might be harsh, they bring people together compared to the potential hatred and anger generated by the MOE’s approach, highlighting a perceived difference in competence between them.

A different user proposed a follow-up lesson by the MOE, utilizing Mdm Halimah’s post to discuss the actions of Israel.

The user expressed the belief that no one in the right frame of mind can justify the actions of Israel, considering it genocide regardless of any justifications presented by any party.

Recent online criticism has emerged regarding the Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lessons provided by the Ministry of Education (MOE).

Launched in February of this year, the lesson aims to address contemporary issues, including the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Despite the one-hour time limit and resource preparation, the curriculum covers developments only from 7 October to December 2023.

Criticism has been directed at the teaching for lacking accurate historical narration of events related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

MOE responded to social media critique, defending its balanced teaching on the conflict and emphasizing the promotion of empathy and critical thinking in lessons, despite concerns over content neutrality and historical depth.

The curriculum includes discussions on various contemporary issues, such as casual racism, mental well-being, and other global conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war.

However, some educational materials have come under scrutiny for omitting critical information.

Lesson slides include a summary of key events in the Israel-Palestine conflict since 1948 and a summary of Hamas, highlighting its non-recognition of Israel’s right to exist.

Notably absent were mentions of Israel’s non-recognition of a Palestinian state and recent accusations against Israel of committing acts of genocide against Palestinians.