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The deliberate and unlawful denial of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza is completely unacceptable, Dr Balakrishnan told Parliament on Sept 22.
SINGAPORE – Israel’s military operations in Gaza have exacerbated the prolonged and desperate suffering of innocent civilians and are unconscionable, said Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
In a ministerial statement responding to 13 questions by MPs on the conflict, he said that Singapore will impose targeted sanctions on the leaders of radical right-wing settler groups that have been responsible for acts of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
More details will be announced at a later date. The move follows the Israeli government’s recent decision to proceed with the E1 settlement in the West Bank, which will fragment the West Bank and threaten the contiguity of Arab towns in the occupied Palestinian territories, he said on Sept 22 .
Dr Balakrishnan told Parliament that the deliberate and unlawful denial of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza is also completely unacceptable. The Israeli government’s excessive actions in Gaza may even be in breach of international humanitarian law, he added.
Calling the humanitarian situation there shocking, he noted that around 1.9 million or 90 per cent of Gazans have been displaced, medical services are overwhelmed, and Gaza is dangerously close to famine levels, which was entirely preventable.
“The scale of civilian death is harrowing. More than 60,000 people have reportedly been killed – a third of them children,” said Dr Balakrishnan. “Singapore condemns the killing of innocent civilians.”
Singapore has consistently held that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law, and opposes ongoing attempts to undermine prospects for a two-state solution, he noted.
In the light of the decision by more countries to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state, Dr Balakrishnan was asked if Singapore was also reconsidering its position.
The Foreign Minister said Singapore will recognise the state of Palestine when it has an effective government that accepts Israel’s right to exist and categorically renounces terrorism.
The Republic’s support for a two-state solution means it will oppose any steps by Israel to extinguish or undermine such a solution, he added.
“If the situation continues to deteriorate, or if Israel takes further steps to extinguish a two-state solution, we will reconsider our position on recognising a Palestinian state,” he said.
Singapore has said that Israel must comply with international humanitarian law when exercising its right to defend itself, and that includes the principle of proportionality in warfare. However, its actions in Gaza have gone too far for too long, said Dr Balakrishnan.
The minister noted that the United Nations’ Independent International Commission of Inquiry recently concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The matter is currently before the International Court of Justice, which is the appropriate forum to adjudicate such grave concerns, he added.
While more aid, including from Singapore, has entered Gaza in recent weeks, this is still woefully inadequate and much more humanitarian supplies are urgently needed, Dr Balakrishnan said.
“Israel has a responsibility to facilitate this,” he said. “It must lift all restrictions on its delivery and allow the full and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid, and Palestinians must be enabled to access this aid safely and with dignity.”
Responding to questions about Singapore’s diplomatic efforts in the Gaza crisis, he said Singapore continues to engage both the Palestinian Authority and Israel.
These include making it clear to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar that Singapore sees the deliberate and unlawful denial of humanitarian aid to civilians as a breach of international humanitarian law, and that Israel’s actions were inimical to its own long-term strategic and security interests, he said.
“Our links to both sides are useful – not just to get our point across, but also in a very real way, to facilitate our humanitarian assistance for Palestinians, especially in Gaza,” he said. “And we have worked both with our Arab regional partners on this, as well as with the Israelis, whose concurrence is essential for these efforts on the ground.”
To questions from Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin (Ang Mo Kio GRC), Dr Charlene Chen (Tampines GRC) and Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) on the sanctions, Dr Balakrishnan urged a sense of realism.
While Singapore does not enter into sanctions lightly, and these are meant to express the city-state’s disapproval of actions that run counter to achieving a two-state solution, people should not assume that they will make a major difference to facts on the ground, he said.
“It is for us a major statement, but I don’t want to overstate its impact,” said the minister.
On the Republic’s efforts to ensure Israel abides by international law, Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore speaks its mind clearly when such principles are breached.
These include the Republic calling out earlier in September Israel’s air strikes in Doha as a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, he noted.
“We will continue to call out actions by all and any side, including by the Israelis or Hamas, that breach international law.”
Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore needs to maintain cooperation with international partners to enhance its defence and security capabilities and to keep the city-state safe.
Israel helped Singapore build up its armed forces in its early years of independence, and this unique security relationship remains invaluable, he added.
“This does not stop us from conveying our views directly to the Israeli government, clearly and constructively, when we do not agree with their actions,” he said. “And we have done so, and we will continue to do so.”
Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh asked if the Government has reviewed whether the Republic is “relatively over-invested in the Israel-Singapore relationship”, and if close ties, particularly in the military domain, continue to be in the national interest.
The WP chief noted that the two countries have extensive military links, with a recent example of this being the Blue Spear, an anti-ship missile system developed by a joint venture between Singapore and Israeli defence firms.
Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore is grateful for Israel’s role in building up its defence in the early years, but this does not mean it is locked into giving Israel a free pass.
“When you have an equal and mutually respectful partnership, when you differ, you must be prepared to say so – openly, candidly and constructively,” he said. “And we have that kind of relationship.”
He assured the House that Singapore is not being held hostage and will not allow itself to be held hostage by its defence cooperation, but without providing further details, citing national security reasons.
Dr Balakrishnan called for both Israelis and Palestinians to acknowledge the hard truth that territorial and political compromise is essential if this conflict is ever to be resolved.
Both peoples exist and have claims to a sovereign state in their ancestral homeland, he note d.
“Ultimately, to resolve this longstanding conflict in a comprehensive, just and durable manner, there needs to be a negotiated settlement which results in two states – one Israeli, one Palestinian – with their peoples living alongside each other in peace, security and dignity,” said Dr Balakrishnan.
In a Facebook post on Sept 22, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Singapore has long supported the Palestinian people’s right to a homeland, and that the only path to a durable peace is a negotiated two-state solution.
“The horrific conflict in Gaza is painful to watch, and emotions run deep. But we must not allow events abroad to divide us here at home,” he said.
[SRC] https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/israels-military-operations-unconscionable-for-worsening-suffering-of-civilians-vivian