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Pro-Palestine residents in Nee Soon urge stronger Singapore action on Gaza in meeting with MP Carrie Tan

Pro-Palestinian residents in Nee Soon South urged MP Carrie Tan to take stronger action against Israel’s actions in Gaza. They called for transparency on Singapore’s foreign policy, questioned the criminalisation of solidarity, and pushed for a firmer stance on the issue.

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SINGAPORE: Pro-Palestinian residents in Nee Soon South expressed frustration with Singapore’s muted response to the ongoing genocide in Palestine, urging MP Carrie Tan to take stronger action in her political capacity.

The residents, identified as AN and S, met MP Tan during a Meet-the-People Session on 25 November, where they called on the government to adopt a firmer stance against Israel’s actions and demanded transparency on Singapore’s foreign policy, particularly in relation to Palestine.

AN and S began by voicing concerns over the lack of a firm government stance condemning Israel’s actions, particularly the killing of Palestinian women and children.

They pointed out that MP Tan, as the founder of Daughters of Tomorrow, an NGO supporting women and families, should be especially concerned about the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Describing the violence in Gaza as a deliberate genocide, the residents questioned whether Singapore would stand by international law, particularly the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, accusing him of war crimes.

“Our expectation is that our government will reflect the sentiments of the people,” said AN and S, urging Singapore to take a stronger stance in condemning Israel on international grounds.

Persecution of Local Pro-Palestinian Solidarity

The residents also questioned why there was limited space in Singapore to express solidarity with Palestine without facing prosecution.

They expressed frustration that local protests and calls for action were criminalised.

In February, at least nine individuals were summoned by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) over investigations into solidarity actions with Palestine.

In June, three women who allegedly organised a group of about 70 people to deliver letters to the Istana in support of the Palestinian cause were charged in court.

“Why is our solidarity being condemned and prosecuted?” they asked, reminding MP Tan that as a lawmaker, she had the power to influence legislation and create more space for expression.

MP Tan acknowledged their concerns but noted that the government faces challenges in taking a public stance on certain foreign policy issues due to national security concerns.

AN and S, however, pointed out inconsistencies in the government’s approach, citing Singapore’s sanctions against Russia in 2022 as an example.

“Why is the same courtesy not being given to the Palestinians?” they asked.

The residents also questioned the racial dynamics of media coverage, noting the disparity in how the deaths of white people versus brown people are reported.

“Why is it still ‘Gaza/Hamas war’? Why is it not being publicised as a genocide?” they asked.

Residents Urge Singapore to Cut Ties with Israel

The residents stressed the need for Singapore to cut diplomatic, economic, and academic ties with Israel, particularly highlighting the importance of ending arms trade.

“We want Singapore to take a stronger stance—cut diplomatic ties, economic ties, academic ties, and end the arms trade,” they said, noting that despite being a small country, Singapore had one of the largest aid budgets for Israel.

When MP Tan mentioned “different concerns” and “considerations,” AN and S pushed for more transparency.

“Why aren’t we getting to know these reasons as citizens of Singapore?” they asked.

MP Tan responded that these concerns were tied to national security, but the residents challenged this reasoning, urging her to address the human cost of such policies.

AN and S reminded MP Tan of the role international boycotts and sanctions played in ending South Africa’s apartheid, emphasizing the years of international pressure needed to bring change.

During the session, MP Tan suggested that neither Palestinians nor Israelis believed in a two-state solution, implying that one side would have to annihilate the other.

AN and S rejected this argument, stating that Palestinians were already being annihilated by Israeli occupation forces.

“We don’t even need to talk about the endgame. Let’s talk about what’s happening now,” they asserted, urging Tan to focus on the ongoing violence and injustice.

Residents Question Singapore’s Gaza Aid and Call for Action on Palestinian Refugees

AN and S also questioned the effectiveness of Singapore’s humanitarian stance, given that aid to Gaza was often blocked by Israel.

“What happens when the aid we send is blocked and doesn’t go through? Aren’t we just wasting taxpayer money providing a band-aid solution?” they asked.

They urged MP Tan to provide more details on alternative methods for sending aid to Palestine.

MP Tan acknowledged that efforts were being made to send aid to Gaza but did not have further details at the time.

She assured the residents that she would share their concerns with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and raise them in Parliament.

Another issue raised was the possibility of Palestinian refugees coming to Singapore for university education, given the destruction of universities in Gaza.

MP Tan referenced the Vietnam refugee situation in the 1970s, saying, “We had to take a firm stance and turn away refugees due to the constraints we faced as a small nation with limited resources.”

However, the residents argued that Singapore’s position had evolved over time and now had more resources to accommodate those in need.

Before leaving the session, AN and S reminded MP Tan of her commitment to under-represented and underserved communities when she entered politics.

Rising Advocacy on Gaza in Singapore

Residents in Singapore have increasingly sought to address the Israel-Palestine conflict with their MPs, voicing their concerns and advocating for stronger action.

On 16 September, Hasannah, a resident of Holland-Bukit Timah, met with MP Edward Chia, who urged caution regarding sanctions against Israel.

On 7 October, activists in Punggol West appealed to MP Sun Xueling, urging her to consider stronger measures in response to the ongoing conflict.

On 4 November, a Choa Chu Kang resident waited for two hours to meet MP Low Yen Ling but was denied a face-to-face discussion about Singapore’s role in the Palestinian crisis.

On 18 November, a group of residents from Jalan Besar met MP Josephine Teo. Despite an emotional and detailed discussion, she offered no concrete responses to their concerns.

On 21 November, residents from Boon Lay in West Coast GRC were unable to meet MP Desmond Lee to discuss the Gaza issue, marking the second time they’ve been unable to engage their MPs on this topic.

Activists continue to encourage residents to engage with their MPs in an effort to raise awareness about Palestine and build solidarity in Singapore.

The death toll since Israel’s assault on Gaza in October of last year has surpassed 45,400, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Over 107,900 others have been wounded, with many victims reportedly trapped under rubble as rescue operations continue to struggle.

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