Former Singapore President Halimah Yacob speaks out on deaths of Gaza aid workers
Madam Halimah Yacob, former President of Singapore, condemned the tragic deaths of aid workers in Gaza. The incident, resulting from an Israeli strike, sparked outrage and ignited online debate.
Published
7 seconds ago
on
4 April 2024
By
Yustika
SINGAPORE: Former President of Singapore, Madam Halimah Yacob, known for her vocal stance on issues concerning Gaza, recently addressed the tragic death of aid workers in the region.
Taking to her Facebook account on Wednesday (3 April), she expressed her condolences and concerns regarding the recent incident.
“It’s tragic,” Mdm Halimah remarked solemnly.
The incident involved the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza, six of whom were foreigners affiliated with the charity World Central Kitchen, alongside their Palestinian driver.
Mdm Halimah emphasized the altruistic intent of the aid workers, stating, “They came to save lives by bringing food to the starving Palestinians in Gaza but lost their lives instead.”
Despite taking precautions to signal their non-combatant status and focus on humanitarian aid, the aid workers tragically lost their lives.
This event adds to a grim history where aid workers have often faced dangers in conflict zones, sometimes resulting in injury or death.
“Some aid agencies and countries have suspended aid operations because of this,” Mdm Halimah said.
This decision, however, has chilling consequences, potentially exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and leading to more deaths from starvation.
Mdm Halimah underscored the paramount importance of ensuring the safety of aid workers, who represent the humanitarian efforts of their respective nations.
Despite the challenges, she expressed hope that efforts to deliver food and aid to the starving Palestinians in Gaza would persevere.
The recent Israeli strike in Gaza has tragically claimed the lives of seven staff members of the humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen.
This adds to the already grim toll, with a total of 196 aid workers killed in Gaza, including over 175 UN personnel.
On 3 April, UN Secretary-General Guterres addressed the violence in Gaza, expressing profound sorrow over the loss of aid workers.
Guterres strongly condemned these deaths as “unconscionable.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acknowledged the involvement of Israeli forces in the attack. He attributed the tragic incident to unintentional actions amidst the chaos of warfare.
Netizens condemn Israeli attack on aid workers in Gaza
Under Madam Halimah’s Facebook post, numerous netizens have condemned the recent attack in Gaza.One user expressed outrage, labelling the killing of nearly a million Palestinians and seven aid workers as unacceptable and tantamount to genocide.
The user called upon responsible governments worldwide to take action against Israel.
Another user commented on the systematic nature of the attacks, accusing Israel of targeting not only terrorists but also their families, UN workers, and now aid volunteers.
The user described the operation as a calculated effort to starve, kill, and wipe out generations of people, stating, ‘It is criminal and genocide.’
The user lamented the apparent lack of intervention by the international community.
A different perspective emerged as one user speculated that the attack might have been carried out by a rogue soldier defying orders.
They suggested it could be a deliberate attempt to discourage aid workers from volunteering in Gaza.
Netizen calls for a balanced perspective from Mdm Halimah
However, a dissenting voice urged Madam Halimah to maintain a balanced opinion and remember the truth of the situation.The user emphasized the importance of remembering the origins of the conflict and argued that while no innocent lives should be lost, it’s essential to acknowledge the events leading up to the recent tragedy.
They referenced the loss of innocent lives on 7 October, attributing it to terrorism and evil acts.
A subsequent comment challenged this perspective, asserting that the truth lay elsewhere. The user highlighted the longstanding violence endured by innocent Palestinians, pointing to incidents of Palestinians being shot by Zionist snipers over the span of 70 years.
They rejected the notion that the conflict began on 7 October, urging a broader examination of historical injustices inflicted upon Palestinians by Zionist forces over decades.
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