Singapore
Singapore announces fourth tranche of humanitarian aid for Gaza
Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan announced the fourth tranche of humanitarian aid for Gaza, comprising 300 MT of canned sardines and 1000 MT of rice. This aid will be shipped via Cyprus. Dr Balakrishnan reiterated Singapore’s commitment to supporting Gaza, having donated over S$17 million to date.
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Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan announced the city state’s fourth tranche of humanitarian assistance for Gaza at a handover ceremony today.
The event was attended by Singapore’s Representative to the Palestinian Authority Hawazi Daipi, Chargé d’Affaires at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Singapore Dhabia Al Mehairbi, and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Cyprus in Singapore Raja Bose.
The fourth tranche will consist of approximately 300 metric tonnes (MT) of halal-certified canned sardines and 1000 MT of white rice. These essential supplies will be transported via commercial sea freight from Singapore to Larnaca, Cyprus, for onward conveyance to Gaza, in cooperation with the UAE and Cyprus.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Dr Balakrishnan acknowledged the deep distress and grief among Singaporeans over the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has now entered its ninth month.
He highlighted Singapore’s active support for humanitarian efforts in Gaza since the start of the conflict, with both official and private contributions supporting multiple fundraising efforts. Organizations like the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation, Mercy Relief, and the Singapore Red Cross have been pivotal in these efforts.
Dr Balakrishnan outlined the previous tranches of aid, including the first tranche of public donations overseen by Minister Maliki Osman in Cairo in November 2023, the second tranche delivered to Al Arish, Egypt, later that month, and the third tranche airdropped into Gaza from Amman, Jordan, in March 2024. Additionally, the SAF deployed a medical team on board a French Armed Forces ship in Al Arish in January 2024 to treat civilian casualties.
“Food insecurity remains a pressing concern in Gaza,” Dr Balakrishnan stated, noting that the fourth tranche of humanitarian assistance will include 300 MT of sardines and 1000 MT of rice. This aid will be shipped from Singapore to Larnaca, Cyprus, and then to Gaza for distribution. “This latest tranche of aid represents our continued and steadfast commitment to alleviate the suffering in Gaza,” he added.
To date, Singapore has contributed more than S$17 million in donations for Gaza, including S$8.1 million raised by the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and over S$2 million for UNICEF.
Dr Balakrishnan expressed hope for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, allowing for the release of hostages and the delivery of aid. He also emphasized the need for a comprehensive, just, and durable solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Singapore’s long-standing position on Israeli settlements is clear: they are viewed as illegal under international law and a barrier to a negotiated two-state solution. Dr Balakrishnan affirmed Singapore’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian Authority, particularly in capacity-building efforts through the Enhanced Technical Assistance Package.
Dr Balakrishnan’s earlier comments on 2 July which referred to the conflict at Gaza as a “family quarrel” sparked controversy.
During a Parliamentary session, he affirmed that Singapore is “prepared in principle” to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, contingent upon it having an effective government that renounces terrorism and recognizes Israel’s right to exist. This statement was in response to a question by Workers’ Party MP for Aljunied GRC, Mr Gerald Giam, about the criteria for recognizing Palestine and whether such recognition would aid in advancing negotiations.
Dr Balakrishnan emphasized the necessity of an effective Palestinian government representing all Palestinians, exercising authority over the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and possessing the mandate to engage in negotiations with Israel. “We are not going to lock ourselves into a specific time or to whether or not other countries have made decisions in parallel, on the same fundamental question,” he said. He also distinguished between the existence of effective Palestinian leadership and the recognition of a formal Palestinian state, suggesting that Singapore should maintain a principled stance of neutrality in international conflicts.
Netizens ridiculed an awareness video posted on the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s (MSF) Instagram account, which urged neighborhood intervention in domestic violence cases to save lives.
They pointed out the irony in light of Dr Balakrishnan’s recent remarks, describing the conflict in Gaza as a “family quarrel in another family” and emphasizing that it is “fundamentally not our quarrel.” The perceived inconsistency in Singapore’s approach to intervening in conflicts has sparked debate among the public.
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Small player want t be seen on intl stage. Let the big boys slug this one out.
Better to channel this tax payers money to Singapore Prison Service for them to better care of our prisoners.
At least our prisoners are productively working hard in the prison while serving out their sentence.
In Judea, it gets more bloodshed with a bankrupt economy.
Wayang show. Dun want to end the war But Pretend to give aids … Only thing the aids never reach those who needs it but rather held up in Israel while they distribute to those Palestine/israel exes who needs them. No?!?
News reported international aid are not getting in for some time now…
Hundreds of trucks loaded with neccessities are lining up for hours or days, not being allowed in…wharehouses of food and stuff are rotting or being looted..
This is war !
Mr VB…can u be sure SG’s aid reaches them?…whether gojng in vis cyprus or egypt…everyone demands a share..
Humans are the most dangerous animals in the planet, & the most evil.
Israel was peaceful before 7th October.
Palestininans should ask Hamas terrorists to surrender instead of asking others to donate food and money.
Palestinians support Hamas and terrorists in order to wipe out Israel.
Stop playing victim cards and protestings all over the world. Silly !!!
Palestine should resort to terrorism just because of oppressions.
Stop!!!! Its tax payers money.
on one hand dont interfere with foreign politics, the other hand using tax payers money to help others?
Singapore so man old ones are jobless and struggling to live day to day on high food cost.What do you think?
It takes at least another 12 years to clear all the debris and rubble in Judea and South West Judea if this war ever ends today.
How long and how much more of our tax payers money is going to cost us if ever they are grateful not to say the least.
Nobody owes them a living.
Period.
What is this? A PR stunt? Or to help VB feel good about himself Please identify the illegal Zionist settlors and refuse their entry into Singapore. Close their bank accounts. Aren’t we members of the ICC and ICJ?