Recognising Palestinian state 'crucial', world must do it for them: Halimah Yacob

Former president Halimah Yacob described the potential displacement of one million Palestinians due to Israel's impending military operation as "chilling".

She called the normalising of injustice as "disturbing" and called on the world to help recognise a Palestinian state.

Her comments were made in a Facebook post on Sep. 4.

World must do it for them

In her post, Halimah wrote, "Israel’s announcement that one million of the already many times displaced Gazans will have to flee, again, when its new offensive to occupy Gaza City starts, is so chilling."

"Nothing is hidden," she commented.

She said that the displacement of Palestinians was "proclaimed to the whole world like it's just another event in a series of destructive and violent acts".

She finds that the normalising of "injustice, oppression and trampling of Palestinian rights" is "highly disturbing".

"That is why recognising a Palestinian state is crucial. Injustice and oppression must never be normalised. That's why we have international humanitarian laws," Halimah added.

Halimah further noted that the Palestinians were impeded from doing it themselves, referencing how Palestinian officials were disallowed from attending a United Nations (UN) General Assembly session during which a Palestinian state would be discussed.

"The world must do it for them," Halimah concluded.

Israel to launch new operation soon

In May, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced it had begun "Operation Gideon's Chariots" and struck "over 670 HAMAS terror targets" throughout Gaza.

CNN wrote later that month that Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu said it plans to "take control of the entire Gaza strip."

By August, Israel reportedly controlled 75 per cent of Gaza, but the UN estimates that the figure is higher, at 86 per cent, according to the BBC.

That same month, the IDF called up 60,000 reservists and extended the service of 20,000 others in preparations for "Operation Gideon's Chariots II", a continuation of its May offensive.

A senior Israeli military official told the press on Sep. 3 that the country's imminent offensive in Gaza would displace a million Palestinians, France24 reported.

The UN is preparing to meet in a General Assembly session during which France will lead international efforts to recognise a state of Palestine, an effort the U.S. government has opposed, BBC reported.

The U.S. State Department later announced it had revoked the visas of Palestinian leaders and diplomats, which include Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the Palestinian officials of undermining peace efforts and seeking "the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state", BBC wrote.

Top image via Halimah Yacob / Facebook, Wikimedia Commons