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Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza: Faishal Ibrahim
SINGAPORE – Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza, and the situation there is deeply painful, said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim. Associate Professor Faishal said this was a view held by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. He was speaking to the media on May 31 at an event at Changi Airport to send off 44 pilgrims to the annual Haj in Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Prof Faishal said: 'It pains me to say this, considering Israel's contributions to Singapore in our early years. But I think we need to be frank. I fear an increasing number of people worldwide will agree with Mr Ehud, including myself.' On May 27, The Guardian reported on an opinion piece Mr Ehud had written for the Israeli newspaper and website Haaretz. The 12th prime minister of Israel, from 2006 to 2009, had said Israel was committing war crimes in Gaza, with thousands of innocent Palestinians and many Israeli soldiers being killed. Mr Ehud said the government of Israel was waging a war without purpose, without goals or clear planning and with no chances of success. Prof Faishal was responding to a question on a statement from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 30 that Israel may be in breach of international law by restricting the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Prof Faishal , who is also Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, reiterated that the Singapore government believes that Israel's actions are likely to be in breach of international humanitarian law. He said: 'PM Wong spoke about about the situation in Gaza yesterday, he said plainly that Israel has gone too far. 'In particular, the restrictions it has imposed on the delivery of humanitarian supplies to Gaza are completely unacceptable.' PM Wong had said while Singapore had always said Israel had the right to defend itself, it had gone too far and its actions had caused a terrible humanitarian disaster. PM Wong said this at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at Parliament House. This was to announce the upgrading of both countries' relationship across several domains including defence, intelligence and nuclear power. Mr Macron had said France could harden its position on Israel if it continued to block humanitarian aid to Gaza, and France may consider applying sanctions against Israeli settlers. Prof Faishal said the Singapore government has joined many countries to strongly urge an immediate cease fire, the protection of civilian lives, the return of hostages and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid. He added: 'If you reflect, Zulhijjah is a month where most Muslims turn their eyes to Mecca as millions perform their Haj. That's what we saw today. However, in recent years, the focus in the Middle East has been Palestine.' The situation there, especially in Gaza, is deeply painful, he added. He said: 'The suffering of the Palestinian civilians in occupied territories, including children, is unbearable. 'As we increase our worship during this sacred month of Haj, please pray for the safety of our Haj pilgrims and remember the Palestinians who are in pain and are suffering. Let's also be thankful for the peace and cohesion we have enjoyed in Singapore for decades.' Prof Faishal added he was particularly thankful that leaders like former President Halimah Yacob have spoken about the crisis in Gaza and have helped all Singaporeans think of the tragedy with compassion and grace. Since March 2, Israel has imposed a near-total blockade on humanitarian aid and commercial supplies to Gaza after the breakdown of a two-month ceasefire. The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas' October 2023 attack on Israel that killed 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Out of 251 hostages seized during the attack, 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on May 29 that at least 3,986 people had been killed in the territory since Israel ended the ceasefire on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 54,249, mostly civilians. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Middle East Eye
2 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Poll: 82 percent of Israelis favour expelling Palestinians from Gaza
A new poll found that 82 percent of Israeli Jews support the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, while an additional 56 percent support expelling Palestinian citizens of Israel. The poll was conducted Pennsylvania State University and conducted by Tamir Sorek for the Israeli polling firm Geocartography Knowledge Group, Haaretz reported. The number marks a massive increase of support for expelling Palestinians compared to a 2003 survey, in which support was 45 percent and 31 percent, respectively.
Middle East Eye
2 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israeli press review: MP glorifies killed contractor for ‘wiping out' Gaza homes
Killed contractor lauded for destroying Gaza The Israeli army announced on Thursday that David Libi, a 19-year-old heavy equipment operator, was killed in an explosion during a military operation in the northern Gaza Strip. Libi, from the settlement of Malachi Shalom in the occupied West Bank, was employed by the Israeli army through Libi Construction and Infrastructure, a company recently sanctioned by the UK. Zvi Sukkot, a member of the Israeli parliament from the Religious Zionist Party, paid tribute to Libi, calling him a 'friend' and praising his role in the destruction of Palestinian homes. 'He fell bravely today fighting against the Nazis in Gaza at the age of 19,' Succot wrote on X, adding: 'With God's help, the State of Israel will avenge his blood.' New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Sukkot emphasised the importance of Libi and other heavy equipment operators in the military campaign, describing them as 'directly responsible for the greatest achievement of the war in wiping out tens of thousands of homes that endangered our fighters and changed the face of the Gaza Strip'. He noted that while they may not receive the same recognition as pilots, 'they are among the people to whom the entire nation of Israel owes the most'. Sukkot also highlighted that many of the operators come from settler communities. In a separate eulogy shared in a settler group chat, Libi and others were described as sending a message to Gaza's residents: 'You have nothing to look for here anymore. The best thing for you would be to find a boat or raft and try to sail to Greece, Europe or Morocco. Because here, you have no future.' Palestinian drivers attacked by football fans Two Palestinian bus drivers were attacked in Jerusalem by Beitar Jerusalem fans on Thursday, following their team's defeat in the Israel State Cup final. Footage of the attack circulated online, but police have yet to arrest any suspects, according to Haaretz. Israeli hooligans provoke clashes in Amsterdam after chanting anti-Palestinian slogans Read More » Ahmad Karain, one of the drivers assaulted, told Haaretz that dozens of Beitar fans 'realised I was an Arab after speaking to me and suddenly began shouting 'Death to Arabs', cursing and attacking me. More and more joined in constantly'. Beitar Jerusalem is a football club known for its association with the Israeli right wing. According to Karain, another driver, Muhammad Sayaj, came to his aid and was also attacked. 'The police only arrived after 20 minutes, maybe even half an hour, and they rescued me from there. 'I was terrified; I feared I might not survive. This isn't the first time drivers have been attacked, but it was the most brutal incident.' In recent years, and especially since the start of the war in Gaza, attacks on Palestinian drivers in Israel have increased. Koach LaOvdim, a workers' union, warned of escalating violence against drivers. 'Every day brings us closer to the murder of a driver or inspector.' Palestinian 'murdered in racist attack' by Jewish Israelis Fouad Alyan, a resident of Beit Safafa in occupied East Jerusalem, was killed last week after allegedly being run over by a Jewish driver. According to eyewitness accounts, Fouad and his cousin were attacked by two Israeli Jews while sitting in a public park in Jerusalem. How racist discourse fuels Israel's settler colonial genocide Read More » Fouad's cousin, Alaa Alyan, told Haaretz: 'Someone came with a cane and started threatening us. We left the park, but they began chasing us in a car and tried to catch us.' The two attempted to escape on Fouad's motorcycle, which was forced on to the pavement. 'The man chasing us accelerated, mounted the pavement and ran us over,' Alaa said. Fouad was critically injured and pronounced dead at the scene, while his cousin sustained minor injuries. Initially, the police treated the incident as a criminal matter rather than a racially motivated attack. Relatives of Fouad told Ynet that the two 'were sitting in a public park when Jewish individuals approached and told them Arabs were not allowed there'. They expressed their 'hope the truth will be known, and that the real story behind this murder, racism, will not be ignored'. Family members described Fouad as 'a respectable man who had good relations with everyone who knew him' and said he was 'murdered in cold blood'.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Israel accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal now under review by Hamas
Israel accepted a new ceasefire proposal over the war in Gaza, potentially offering a respite for the enclave's conflict-battered residents and suggesting ties with the US may be improving. Israel has given up its demand that negotiations to end the war only begin after all hostages are released, Haaretz reported, and the plan is currently being reviewed by Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval of the proposal comes after weeks of tensions with Washington over the Gaza war, a US ceasefire with Yemen's Houthis, and American negotiations with Iran over Tehran's nuclear program, which Netanyahu fears won't block Iran's bombmaking capabilities but may hold Israel back from taking military action, The Wall Street Journal reported.
AU Financial Review
2 days ago
- Politics
- AU Financial Review
The flashing signals I just saw in Israel
I just spent a week in Israel and, while it may not look as if much has changed — the grinding war in the Gaza Strip continues to grind — I felt something new there for the first time since October 7, 2023. It is premature to call it a broad-based anti-war movement, which can happen only when all the Israeli hostages are returned. But I did see signals flashing that more Israelis, from the left to the centre and to even parts of the right, are concluding that continuing this war is a disaster for Israel morally, diplomatically or strategically. From the political centre, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert wrote an essay in the newspaper Haaretz in which he pulled no punches against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition.
