Singaporeans criticise Vivian Balakrishnan’s handshake with Netanyahu amid Gaza humanitarian crisis

SINGAPORE: Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has come under fire from netizens after sharing photos of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar during his recent visit to the Middle East.

In a Facebook post on Thursday (6 Nov), Balakrishnan uploaded several photos of his meeting with the Israeli leaders.

The meeting was part of his working visit to the Palestinian Territories and Israel, which took place from 3 to 6 November.

During the trip, he met Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin on Tuesday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Thursday.

In his post, Balakrishnan said he had “candid and wide-ranging discussions” with the Israeli leaders on developments in the region, including the situation in Gaza and the broader prospects for peace.

He added that he expressed Singapore’s support for the “full implementation of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan” and urged all sides to work towards a permanent ceasefire.

Balakrishnan also called for expanded access to humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians and emphasised the need to prepare for the next phase of reconstruction.

“Singapore will continue to play our part, working with international partners to support these relief operations,” he said.

He further reiterated Singapore’s “longstanding support for a negotiated two-State solution, consistent with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, as the only viable option to achieve a comprehensive, just and durable solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

Balakrishnan added that Singapore’s relationship with Israel, “built on mutual respect and cooperation”, has enabled the Republic to “convey our views candidly, and contribute, modestly, to support peace and stability in the region.”

“This is embarrassing,” say netizens

Balakrishnan’s post, however, sparked widespread backlash from Singaporeans on Facebook and Instagram, generating over 4,000 comments.

Many users expressed disappointment, describing the photo of his handshake with Netanyahu as “embarrassing” and “insensitive.” 

Notably, there were allegations that some comments had been deleted, but the majority of criticism from netizens remains visible on Balakrishnan’s social media page.

“Having a meeting with a leader of terrorists discussing peace — what a joke,” one user wrote. 

Another user commented that if an individual has an arrest warrant from the ICC, the user does not want to have anything to do with that person.

Another commented, “I cannot understand this. Singapore was once under Japanese occupation — it was bloody and violent. Yet we are okay with this? What’s the point of having the stars in our flag, one of which symbolises justice?”

“Humanity must come before politics”

One user questioned the diplomatic optics of the meeting, noting that Netanyahu is currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes related to the Gaza conflict.

“In diplomacy, optics matter as much as words. Sometimes, the handshake says more than the statement,” the user wrote.

The user added that when a nation’s top diplomat meets a leader under investigation by the ICC for alleged war crimes, it raises questions not about protocol but about principle.

Diplomatic balance, the user said, should never come at the expense of moral clarity — stressing that this issue is not about politics but about conscience and the silent message conveyed when one smiles in the face of injustice.

Another user commented, “We are deeply concerned and disappointed by your support for such a country, given the ongoing and well-documented violations of human rights. "

"It is disheartening to see this level of denial in the face of so much suffering and loss of innocent lives. These actions not only erode trust but also undermine the values of justice, compassion, and accountability that we hold at heart.”

Echoing the same sentiment, another user said this was not a moment for promoting a two-state solution but a time to recognise the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The user added that Singapore should stand for justice, accountability, and peace rather than posing for photos with those accused of serious violations of international law, emphasising that humanity must come before politics.