S’pore to deliver 4th tranche of aid to Gaza; studying ICJ’s advisory on Israeli settlements

SINGAPORE — A fourth tranche of humanitarian assistance will be delivered to Gaza, taking Singapore’s donations to the Palestinian enclave to more than S$17 million.
The latest tranche, comprising about 300 tonnes of halal-certified canned sardines and 1,000 tonnes of white rice, will be shipped from Singapore to Larnaca, Cyprus and then to Gaza, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday (July 22).
The transportation of these essential supplies will be done in cooperation with the UAE and Cyprus.
Earlier this month, a group of independent human rights experts mandated by the United Nations (UN) said that famine had spread throughout the Gaza Strip as the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas rages on. 
“We are all aware that food insecurity remains a pressing concern in Gaza,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan at the aid’s handover ceremony on Monday.
“This latest tranche of aid represents our continued and steadfast commitment to alleviate the suffering in Gaza.”
Singapore delivered its third tranche of aid to Gaza in March. This was Singapore’s first humanitarian airdrop into Gaza and was closely coordinated with the Jordanian Air Force.
The humanitarian package included meal packs, medical supplies and equipment.
Singapore is also studying the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion on Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories “very carefully”, said Dr Balakrishnan. 
The opinion, published on Friday, ruled that Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories were illegal and all states should cooperate to bring an end to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. 
These included settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the regime associated with them, ICJ President Nawaf Salam said. 
The findings by ICJ’s judges are not binding but carry weight under international law and may weaken support for Israel.
Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore’s long-standing position on Israeli settlements has been “clear and consistent”. 
“We view Israel’s settlements in the West Bank as illegal under international law,” he said. 
“These settlements, in fact, make it much harder to arrive at a negotiated two-state solution.”
Dr Balakrishnan reiterated that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was “long-standing and complicated”.
“Singapore’s principled position is that both sides need to find the political will to resume negotiations with the support of the international community in order to make progress towards a two-state solution consistent with the UN Security Council resolutions,” he said. 
In the meantime, Singapore remains committed to supporting the Palestinian Authority through the S$10 million Enhanced Technical Assistance Package and will continue to find practical ways to help Palestinians in these difficult times, he added. CNA
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