Former Singapore President Halicam Yacob has taken to Facebook to express deep concern and question the global response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Yacob’s post reflects a plea for humanity and raises critical questions about the world’s apparent indifference to the suffering of Palestinians amidst the Gaza War.
A Cry for Humanity in the Face of Tragedy
In his Facebook post, Yacob wonders why it is challenging for the world to stand on the side of humanity, especially in the context of the Gaza conflict.
She highlights the staggering toll of 17,000 Palestinians killed in just two months, with a majority being women and children. Yacob expresses dismay at the global immobilization in the face of such devastating human loss.
The post vividly describes the dire conditions faced by the Palestinian population, with images of babies being killed, children mourning their deceased parents, and two million people fleeing for their lives without a safe haven.
Yacob draws attention to the inadequacy of the proposed safe zone, likening it to London’s Heathrow airport in size but lacking essential infrastructure and basic amenities for survival.
Halimah Yacob’s Facebook post
Why is it so difficult to stand on the side of humanity? We invoked humanity, when it is convenient, for so many other causes, yet when 17,000 Palestinians are being killed, in just two months, the majority of them women and children, the world is immobilised.
Are our hearts so hardened that we chose not to be moved by pictures of babies being killed, children crying for their dead parents and two million people fleeing for their lives with nowhere safe to go? A safe zone? So small that it’s no bigger than London’s Heathrow airport with no infrastructure, water, electricity and other basic amenities for survival which even the UN and International Red Cross have described as unliveable.
And even the meagre lorry loads of aid are blocked, killing Palestinians through starvation, disease and untreated injuries if they’ve escaped the bombs.
After this is over, whatever the outcome, what lessons will we learn about a world so indifferent to the pain and suffering of a people? Is the value that we attach to humanity dependent on who they are? If this is one takeaway, then we are living in a very dangerous world where principles and values, the biggest victims in the Gaza War, will count for nothing in the future.
Why do we have international laws then if they can be broken with impunity despite pious protestations globally?
What is the significance of this in conflicts in other parts of the world? What’s the role of the UN which has been severely undermined in this war? Surely humanitarian international laws which prohibit collective punishment of innocent civilians, which the UN said was repeatedly violated by Israel in its exercise of the right to self defence, must count for something.
If it counts for nothing, then be very fearful of the rule of the mighty over the weak. Of chaos and disorder particularly dangerous for vulnerable small states.
Stand on the side of humanity. Humans never learn. We are doomed to repeat the same mistakes. Security is not achieved through the barrels of a gun.
Humans have memories. We share experiences through telling stories to our young. A truly traumatised young will remember these moments when their families are killed, homes destroyed and all hopes erased. Security is a long term commitment and requires sincere effort. It cannot be achieved overnight.
Stand on the side of humanity. What stories will we tell our young even though we are living in peace now? How do we explain what’s happening when they see so much death and destruction and they wonder why? Do we tell them that humanity failed?
