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For South-east Asia, Gaza is no longer a distant story
The conflict is no longer just in the headlines. People feel it in their bones now.
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The war in Gaza has got a lot closer – spreading out to Indonesia’s streets, Malaysia’s malls, Brunei’s mosques and Singapore’s social media feeds, says the writer.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
- The Israel-Palestine conflict resonates deeply in South-east Asia, amplified by social media, impacting public sentiment and challenging governments to balance diplomacy with domestic expectations.
- Southeast Asian governments navigate a tightrope, balancing international alliances and trade with public support for Palestine, focusing on humanitarian aid and the two-state solution.
- The ongoing conflict raises domestic risks, with potential for extremism and communal tensions in South-east Asia.
AI generated
JAKARTA – For decades, the Israel-Palestine conflict felt somewhat far removed to South-east Asia, even among the Malay-Muslim communities. The issue would surface in Friday sermons, Ramadan charity drives, or fleeting news headlines before fading again.
Sympathy ran deep, filtered through diplomats, aid agencies, and television screens.
