By Nurul Izzah Anwar

Singapore’s recent position on Palestine, as articulated by Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, conditions recognition on Palestinians meeting a set of demands.

This stance, framed as principled caution, is in reality a profound moral failure.

It demands that a people under bombardment, siege, and famine first prove their worthiness for statehood, a right that is inherent and non-negotiable.

This conditional approach ignores history.

The Palestinians have already made monumental compromises for peace, from the Oslo Accords to the Arab Peace Initiative.

To reset the conditions now is to absolve the occupier and punish the victim.

Singapore’s provision of humanitarian aid, while commendable, is tragically insufficient when delivered under a total blockade.

Aid without justice risks making permanent a humanitarian crisis, denying a people their sovereignty.

The equation of an occupied population with a nuclear armed military power is a false neutrality that rewards aggression.

True commitment to a two state solution begins with recognition. Over 140 nations, including the UK, Canada and Australia have taken this step, affirming that Palestine’s right to exist is not a prize to be won but a foundation for peace.

Singapore now stands at a crossroads.

As the world once united against the scourge of Nazism, it must again unite for justice.

We urge Singapore to be on the right side of history by immediately recognising a sovereign Palestinian state.

This must be paired with concrete action: demanding an end to the genocide, lifting the blockade to open humanitarian corridors, and upholding the right of return for refugees.

History’s judgment is clear: neutrality in the face of atrocity is complicity.

Singapore has the chance to choose justice, uphold a fundamental principle of international law, and affirm the unconditional right of a people to self-determination. The time for hesitation is over. - ENDS