Former Singapore president Halimah Yacob has strongly criticised Israel’s latest military plans in Gaza, describing the impending displacement of another million Palestinians as “so chilling”.
In a Facebook post on 4 September 2025, she responded to reports that Israel would launch an offensive to occupy Gaza City.
A senior Israeli military official said on 3 September that the operation was expected to force one million residents to flee, with a new “humanitarian area” designated for them.
The vast majority of Gaza’s more than two million residents have already been displaced at least once during nearly two years of conflict.
Warning against normalisation of injustice
Halimah condemned what she saw as the increasing indifference to Palestinian suffering.
“Nothing is hidden. Proclaimed to the whole world like it’s just another event in a series of destructive and violent acts waged against starving Palestinian civilians. It’s like a normal occurrence,” she wrote.
She added that the “normalising of injustice, oppression and trampling of Palestinian rights, is highly disturbing”.
Halimah argued that recognition of a Palestinian state is crucial, stressing that “injustice and oppression must never be normalised. That’s why we have international humanitarian laws”.
Call for international action on recognition
The former president emphasised that Palestinians could not achieve statehood alone, pointing out restrictions faced by their leadership.
She cited reports that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and eighty officials were denied access to the United Nations General Assembly this month after the United States revoked or denied their visas.
“The world must do it for them,” she said, arguing that recognition must come from the international community.
Shanmugam cautions against immediate recognition of Palestine, citing potential harm to Palestinians
Her remarks appeared to contrast with those made by Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for National Security, K Shanmugam, on 2 September.
Shanmugam warned that the immediate recognition of Palestine could harm the Palestinian cause rather than advance it.
“You have to ask whether recognising Palestine very immediately, where there is no viable government and there is no viable two-state solution, hurts or advances the Palestinian cause,” he said.
Concerns over timing and viability
Shanmugam argued that recognition without a viable government, stable population, and functioning institutions would not alter “facts on the ground”.
He identified Israeli military actions as obstructing all three elements, citing destroyed infrastructure, mass displacement, and the weakening of the Palestinian Authority.
“What it really needs is support in the Palestinian Authority, giving them legitimacy and building them up to a stage where they can govern,” he added.
Singapore’s position on two-state solution
Minister Shanmugam’s remarks come amid reports that several countries—including Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom—are preparing to formally recognise a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly.
Over 140 out of 193 UN member states currently recognise Palestine.
However, Singapore, along with Japan, South Korea, and the United States, does not.
Singapore has maintained that it is “prepared in-principle” to recognise a Palestinian state, but only at a time it considers appropriate.
Shanmugam reaffirmed that Singapore continues to support a two-state solution and the Palestinian right to a homeland.
He recalled Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s May statement that Israel’s military actions in Gaza constituted a “likely breach of international humanitarian law”.
“We have made it very clear several times that, at least as of now, Israel’s response has gone too far,” Shanmugam said.
“Many, including I, think that history will probably be harsh in its judgement of Israel’s actions.”
Singapore rejects calls to cut ties with Israel
Shanmugam also dismissed suggestions that Singapore might sever diplomatic ties with Israel, arguing such a move would not help Palestinians.
“Say we cut off ties with Israel, how is that going to help the people of Gaza?” he asked.
“How will that give us any hope of continuing to speak with the Israeli government and putting forward our viewpoints?”
He noted that Singapore has not cut ties with other countries involved in humanitarian crises, including Syria, Myanmar, and Russia.
Cutting off Israel, he said, would require similar action against major powers such as the United States, France, and Britain, which also supply weapons used in conflicts.
Trade and diplomacy with Israel
Singapore maintains long-standing relations with Israel, including growing trade ties. Bilateral trade reached approximately US$3.8 billion in 2022, a 67 per cent increase from 2021.
Israeli exports to Singapore include machinery, medical and optical equipment, and transport products.
Shanmugam noted that Singapore’s ability to maintain candid engagement with Israel depends on preserving these diplomatic channels.
“They do listen, as long as we are sensible. It doesn’t mean they follow; but at least they listen.”
Gaza crisis deepens as offensive looms
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached severe levels.
The United Nations estimates that nearly one million people live in and around Gaza City, which Israel is preparing to seize.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 63,700 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its offensive in October 2023.
Another 160,660 people have been injured, with deaths from starvation, including three children, recently reported.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singapore had earlier described Israel’s expansion of military operations as “dangerous and unacceptable”.
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