Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim on Israel-Hamas conflict
Singapore must reject and condemn violence against the innocent and civilians, said MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Nov 6), he said there is “no justification” for what happened in Israel on Oct 7. The chaos and destruction in Gaza that followed are “even more distressing”, he said. He pointed out that the conflict is complex and emotive but is very important to the peace and stability of not only the Middle East, but the rest of the world. “This is not a religious or theological issue either; neither can we paint everyone with the same brush,” he said. Mr Zhulkarnain said the world needs to do more to stop the cycle of violence and protect the children. Longstanding peace between the Israelis and Palestinians cannot be achieved through a cycle of violence, he said. “It is broken through the intervention of love, humanity and compassion,” he added. He highlighted the key principles of self-defence while mitigating the excessive brutal realities and destruction that war would bring. One of them is proportionality. He raised concerns that there is a grey line when collateral damage crosses into collective punishment. He expressed hope that justice and the due process of the law will prevail when the dust settles. He called for a fuller investigation of the evidence and alleged breaches of international law. He wanted to know if Singapore would support the call to render full cooperation and facilitate the investigative work. He also wanted to know if the Government would ask its Egyptian counterparts to assist and facilitate the movement of aid and assistance. He hopes Singapore can help in the provision of critical vaccinations and medication for the Palestinian population which is facing a health crisis. “We are not entirely without hope and we are not completely helpless because of what we can do here in Singapore,” he said. Mr Zhulkarnain also credited Singapore’s religious leaders for guiding the community in handling the “deluge of information” and emotional impact of the conflict. This leadership showcases to the world that Islam emphasises peace and compassion for all, he said. Singapore must also guard against rhetoric which causes divisions in society, and not allow conflicts overseas to sow discord and disharmony, he added.
Singapore must reject and condemn violence against the innocent and civilians, said MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Nov 6), he said there is “no justification” for what happened in Israel on Oct 7. The chaos and destruction in Gaza that followed are “even more distressing”, he said. He pointed out that the conflict is complex and emotive but is very important to the peace and stability of not only the Middle East, but the rest of the world. “This is not a religious or theological issue either; neither can we paint everyone with the same brush,” he said. Mr Zhulkarnain said the world needs to do more to stop the cycle of violence and protect the children. Longstanding peace between the Israelis and Palestinians cannot be achieved through a cycle of violence, he said. “It is broken through the intervention of love, humanity and compassion,” he added. He highlighted the key principles of self-defence while mitigating the excessive brutal realities and destruction that war would bring. One of them is proportionality. He raised concerns that there is a grey line when collateral damage crosses into collective punishment. He expressed hope that justice and the due process of the law will prevail when the dust settles. He called for a fuller investigation of the evidence and alleged breaches of international law. He wanted to know if Singapore would support the call to render full cooperation and facilitate the investigative work. He also wanted to know if the Government would ask its Egyptian counterparts to assist and facilitate the movement of aid and assistance. He hopes Singapore can help in the provision of critical vaccinations and medication for the Palestinian population which is facing a health crisis. “We are not entirely without hope and we are not completely helpless because of what we can do here in Singapore,” he said. Mr Zhulkarnain also credited Singapore’s religious leaders for guiding the community in handling the “deluge of information” and emotional impact of the conflict. This leadership showcases to the world that Islam emphasises peace and compassion for all, he said. Singapore must also guard against rhetoric which causes divisions in society, and not allow conflicts overseas to sow discord and disharmony, he added.
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