Singapore welcomes impending Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal

The agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages sets the stage for a cessation of hostilities and a surge in the delivery of humanitarian aid, said Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

In remarks made on Jan 16, Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore welcomes the multi-phase agreement and will work with partners in the Middle East to step up the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel agreed on a ceasefire that will pause the war in Gaza and broker an end to the brutal 15-month conflict, said Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, on Jan 15.

The agreement is set to be officially accepted by Israel after a Cabinet meeting on Jan 16, following months of mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the US.

The complex deal, set to take effect on Jan 19, outlines a six-week initial ceasefire with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. The release of Hamas-held hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel will take place within the first week.

“For the past 15 agonising months, too many people have suffered and there has been too much death and destruction,” Dr Balakrishnan said. “At least now, there is a glimmer of hope and light at the end of what is a very long and tortured tunnel.”

The minister said he congratulated the Qatari Premier for his efforts in facilitating the ceasefire talks. He added that he was in touch with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia and Jordan the day before, and had been working closely with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“We focused especially on the delivery of humanitarian assistance,” he said.

Singapore has sent six tranches of humanitarian aid to Gaza since the start of the war, amounting to more than $18 million in cash and donations.

The flow of aid will continue, with Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman set to visit Jordan next week to deliver a cheque to a Jordanian charity.

Plans are also afoot for another shipment of humanitarian supplies to be sent by air to the Palestinian people, said Dr Balakrishnan, with more fund raising expected during the holy Ramadan period.

He added that Singapore will continue to work with its partners in the Middle East, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE, to ensure the supplies will reach Palestinians in need.

Dr Balakrishnan said there are also medium- to longer-term plans to step up engagement with the Palestinian Authority, including initiatives to increase scholarships for prospective Palestinian students to study in Singapore.

Israeli troops have been carrying out ground and air attacks on Gaza after Hamas-led gunmen burst into Israeli border-area communities on Oct 7, 2023. Hamas’ offensive killed 1,200 soldiers and civilians, and more than 250 hostages were abducted, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly civilians, have been killed in the conflict since Oct 7, 2023, according to the local health authorities.

There are severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine, partly due to a struggle to get aid to those in need.

Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore’s position is that a negotiated two-state solution is needed in the long term.

“That is the only way we are going to have a comprehensive, just and durable peace between these two peoples who are going to be permanent neighbours, and do deserve to be able to live in peace, security and dignity,” he added.

“We hope that eventually, direct negotiations between Israelis and the Palestinians will result in a viable, secure and peaceful two-state solution.”

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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