6-11-2023 (SINGAPORE) As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues to unfold in the region, approximately 40 Singaporean citizens have chosen to remain in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. This information was conveyed by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, during a parliamentary session held on Monday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) affirmed that it maintains continuous contact with these Singaporeans who have opted to stay in the conflict-ridden area.
Previously, more than 120 Singaporeans had left the region, either by land or air, according to Dr. Balakrishnan. He noted that while the majority of these Singaporeans departed via commercial means, a small number who faced difficulties in doing so were evacuated through dedicated flights organized by other countries. Dr. Balakrishnan expressed Singapore’s gratitude to the governments of Australia, Canada, Portugal, and South Korea for their assistance in ensuring the safe departure of these Singaporean citizens from Israel.
On October 14, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson confirmed that five Singaporeans were among the 220 passengers on board a South Korean military transport plane that conducted a civilian evacuation from Tel Aviv, ultimately taking them to Seoul.
On October 10, the MFA had advised Singaporeans residing in Israel and the Palestinian Territories to promptly leave through available commercial travel options. Furthermore, the ministry had previously issued advisories urging Singaporeans to avoid any travel to areas including the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Israel’s borders with the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria.
In a parliamentary address, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, Maliki Osman, acknowledged the generous contributions of Singaporeans to humanitarian relief efforts in various capacities. He cited the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation’s (RLAF) fundraising campaign, which is slated to support the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). So far, this initiative has successfully raised over $4.6 million. Additionally, the Singapore Red Cross has collected more than $350,000 from the public through its fundraising campaign.
Minister Vivian Balakrishnan conveyed that he recently engaged with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, expressing Singapore’s understanding of the immense strain faced by Egypt, given its immediate proximity to the ongoing conflict. Singapore is eager to extend its support to Egypt during these challenging times. Dr. Balakrishnan commended the Egyptian government’s efforts to facilitate the flow of humanitarian goods into Gaza through the opening of the Rafah crossing. This also includes assisting in the possible evacuation of seriously injured individuals for necessary medical treatment.
