SINGAPORE: Former Singapore president Halimah Yacob, who has been outspoken on the Palestinian issue, has once again condemned Israel — this time for what she described as the “weaponisation of starvation” against Palestinians.
In a Facebook post on 24 August, Halimah highlighted the United Nations’ recent declaration of famine in Gaza.
She noted that the situation was not unexpected, as more than 100 aid groups had previously accused Israel of blocking the entry of foreign humanitarian assistance into the enclave.
“This cruelty and gross inhumanity, made deliberately more humiliating to Palestinians by Israel’s continued denial that it exists, has persisted with impunity as the world looked on,” she wrote.
Halimah compared the use of starvation as a weapon of war to Nazi tactics during the Second World War, stressing that this was precisely why international humanitarian laws exist but are now “conveniently overlooked”.
She also pointed to the high death toll in Gaza, saying more than 62,000 Palestinians — mostly women and children — have been killed as Israel continues its bombardment and alleged plans for a complete takeover of the territory.
Turning to the West Bank, Halimah noted that illegal Israeli settlements were cutting across Palestinian land, further undermining prospects for a two-state solution.
She said many Palestinians had also been killed there, as settlers forcibly took over homes with growing impunity.
“Time to stand up for humanity,” she concluded.
UN Declares Famine in Gaza
On 22 August, the United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza, citing the “systematic obstruction” of aid by Israel during more than 22 months of war.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported that more than 514,000 people in the Gaza Strip are already facing catastrophic conditions, characterised by widespread starvation, destitution, and death.
The number is expected to rise to 641,000 by the end of September.
Between mid-August and late September 2025, conditions are projected to worsen further, with famine likely to expand to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis.
The IPC also warned that by June 2026, at least 132,000 children under five will suffer from acute malnutrition — double the estimates from May 2025.
More than 41,000 of these are severe cases, placing children at heightened risk of death.
In addition, nearly 55,500 pregnant and breastfeeding women will require urgent nutritional support.
UN Leaders: ‘A Man-Made Disaster’
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the crisis as a “man-made disaster, a moral indictment, and a failure of humanity itself”.
“Famine is not only about food; it is the deliberate collapse of the systems needed for human survival. People are starving. Children are dying. And those with the duty to act are failing,” he said.
Guterres also emphasised that Israel, as the occupying power, has “unequivocal obligations” under international law to ensure that food and medical supplies reach the population of Gaza.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinians (UNRWA), said “months of warnings have fallen on deaf ears”.
With famine now confirmed in Gaza City and surrounding areas, he insisted that it was “time for political will” to end the crisis.
“We cannot allow this situation to continue with impunity,” he warned. “No more excuses. The time for action is not tomorrow – it is now.”
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher accused some Israeli leaders of “openly promoting” famine as a weapon of war.
He called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “end the retribution” and open Gaza’s crossings for unrestricted humanitarian access.
Israel Rejects Famine Declaration
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the IPC’s findings, calling the declaration “an outright lie”.
“The IPC report is an outright lie,” Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office.
He added that “Israel does not have a policy of starvation”, citing the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip during the war.
The Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has overseen all food aid distribution in Gaza since May, after Israel accused the UN of allowing Hamas to seize supplies.
GHF claims it has distributed more than 139 million meals to date.
However, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that since the takeover, more than 2,000 people seeking aid have been killed.
Since 7 October 2023, more than 62,800 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 18,430 children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
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