Singapore urges ceasefire and humanitarian access in Gaza, warns against forced displacement

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has cautioned that the ongoing Gaza conflict cannot be resolved through the permanent forced displacement of Palestinian civilians.

In a statement issued on 20 May 2025, the MFA stressed the importance of refraining from unilateral actions that would hinder peace efforts. It also reiterated Singapore’s long-standing call for an immediate ceasefire.

The ministry urged the “immediate, full resumption” of humanitarian aid to Gaza and pressed for the swift release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas.

Emphasis on humanitarian law

“Singapore has consistently called for all parties in the conflict to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, and ensure that all civilians are kept out of harm’s way,” the MFA said in its statement.

It underscored the need to protect civilian infrastructure. “Medical facilities and medical workers must be accorded due protection,” the ministry added.

The MFA reaffirmed Singapore’s support for a negotiated two-state solution, in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions. “This is the only viable path to achieving a comprehensive, just and durable solution to the longstanding Israel-Palestine conflict,” it said.

Background to the Gaza crisis

The latest escalation began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched an incursion into Israel, killing about 1,200 people—most of them civilians—and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign in Gaza. The offensive displaced hundreds of thousands of people and triggered a deepening humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

By May 2025, Gaza health authorities reported that more than 53,400 people had been killed, including at least 17,400 children. Another 121,398 people have been injured, many of them civilians.

Aid blockade and rising malnutrition

Although a six-week ceasefire was implemented in early 2025, humanitarian conditions deteriorated further when Israel imposed an aid blockade in March. The restrictions severely curtailed the flow of food and essential supplies into Gaza.

Since the blockade began, 57 children have reportedly died from malnutrition, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said this figure is likely underestimated, with the number of cases expected to increase sharply.

The WHO has also warned of a growing risk of famine, citing the deliberate withholding of aid. The organisation described the crisis as one of the worst hunger emergencies globally, unfolding “in real time.”

Currently, Gaza’s population of 2.1 million faces prolonged food shortages. Nearly half a million are experiencing catastrophic hunger, acute malnutrition, illness, and rising mortality.

Singapore’s stance in context

Singapore has consistently called for peace efforts that prioritise civilian protection. Its latest statement comes amid mounting international concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the limited progress in diplomatic negotiations.

The city-state’s position highlights its support for a two-state framework, in line with the United Nations, while urging that humanitarian principles be upheld even during active conflict.

As the situation on the ground worsens, the MFA’s call reflects broader international appeals for immediate action to prevent further civilian suffering.