Singapore reaffirms commitment to humanitarian aid for Gaza at Jordan summit

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed Singapore’s commitment to exploring humanitarian aid opportunities for Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, concurrently supporting relief efforts.

Mr Hawazi Daipi, Singapore’s Representative to the Palestinian Authority, attended the “Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza” conference in Jordan on Tuesday (11 June) as the Special Envoy of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, addressing humanitarian response for the Palestinian territory.

The conference, co-hosted by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, aimed to address critical humanitarian needs arising from the Gaza crisis and seek international support for relief efforts.

In his statement at the conference, Mr Hawazi reiterated Singapore’s call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, urging all parties to facilitate the urgent, safe, and unimpeded delivery of aid to affected civilians in Gaza, alongside advocating for the unconditional release of hostages.

Mr Hawazi emphasized Singapore’s support for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, citing the plan proposed by the UN in 1947.

He outlined Singapore’s contributions to Gaza’s humanitarian efforts, including aid tranches and NGO initiatives.

Singapore’s NGOs, such as the Singapore Red Cross and Mercy Relief, are planning to deliver food and medical supplies and assist ongoing relief operations.

The country aims to collaborate with partners to ensure swift and effective aid distribution.

Mr Hawazi met with Palestinian officials on the conference sidelines, affirming Singapore’s friendly relations with the PA and its commitment to supporting capacity-building efforts in various sectors.

Singapore’s contributions include training programs and scholarships for over 750 PA officials.

In March 2024, Singapore deployed a C-130 aircraft to air-drop over 20 tonnes of food supplies into Gaza, invited by the Jordanian government.

Singaporeans have also generously donated over S$15.5 million to NGO fundraising drives.

In April, a group of Singaporean activists staged a peaceful demonstration at the iconic Gardens by the Bay, calling for an immediate halt to arms trade with Israel.

The activists criticized the Singaporean government’s ongoing engagement in arms trade with Israel, highlighting that between 2018 and 2022, Singapore imported approximately US$73 million worth of military equipment from Israel, making it the tenth-largest customer of Israeli defence products.

The demonstrators argued that such dealings undermine Singapore’s humanitarian contributions to Palestine and perpetuate the very violence they aim to alleviate.

In May, The International Criminal Court (ICC) sought arrest warrants for several key figures, including Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the 7 October attacks on Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza.

Israel’s military offensive has resulted in the deaths of at least 37,164 people in Gaza, predominantly civilians, including many women and children.

The offensive has devastated much of Gaza, displacing nearly all of its 2.4 million residents.

Aid deliveries remain severely restricted despite significant efforts, including a specially built US pier.

The Rafah border crossing with Egypt, crucial for humanitarian aid, has been closed for over a month after Israeli troops seized control from Hamas.

The Jordan conference underscored the urgent need for international cooperation to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to work towards a lasting peace in the region.