S'pore supports Palestinians' rights to homeland & 2-state solution consistent with UNSC resolutions

Singapore has long supported Palestinians' rights to a homeland of their own, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said in a Friday, Feb. 7 statement.

The view was reaffirmed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan in parliament a few days earlier, on Feb. 4, 2025.

A negotiated two-state solution is consistent with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and is the "only viable path" for "achieving a comprehensive, just, and durable solution" to the long-standing conflict.

"Singapore will work closely with the Palestinian Authority, especially through our Enhanced Technical Assistance Package, to enhance their capacity for administration and reconstruction," the spokesperson said.

Singapore to deliver 7th trance of humanitarian aid to Gaza

In parliament on Feb. 4, Vivian said that Singapore will be delivering the seventh tranche of humanitarian aid to Gaza, consisting of food, essential supplies and medical supplies.

The humanitarian aid will be conveyed by the Republic of Singapore Air Force to Jordan in a Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft.

Singapore has so far delivered six tranches of humanitarian assistance to Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, totalling more than S$19 million in value.

The most recent tranche of humanitarian aid was delivered on Jan. 21.

Ceasefire

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip was announced on Jan. 15, which was followed by the exchange of hostages and prisoners on both sides.

"What we can do from far away is to encourage all the parties to reach an agreement for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and to pursue a longer-term solution," said Vivian.

However, the "complexity and deep historical entanglements" of the conflict would mean that there will be "no quick and easy solutions".

U.S. "will take over the Gaza Strip"

Most recently, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Feb. 5 (Singapore time).

Previously, Trump lifted the ban that his predecessor Joe Biden placed on the export of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel over concern about their impact on civilian casualties in Gaza.

Netanyahu praised the action, and in a press conference on the same day, called Trump the greatest friend Israel ever had in the White House.

Trump also said that the U.S. "will take over the Gaza Strip" and saw a "long-term ownership position" over the war-torn city.

Trump, who had not committed to a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel, said: "It doesn’t mean anything about a two-state or one-state or any other state, it means that we want to give people a chance at life because the Gaza Strip has been a hell hole."

However, the White House later walked back Trump's comments, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying any displacement of Palestinians would only be "temporary."

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Top image via Eyad El Baba/UNICEF