Vivian Balakrishnan on working visit to Middle East

JERUSALEM – Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan will visit the Palestinian Territories and Israel from Nov 3 to 6.

Dr Balakrishnan’s trip follows the recent implementation of the first phase of the

ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas

in Gaza and the release of hostages.

Announcing the working visit on Nov 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said: “It reaffirms Singapore’s commitment towards humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza and our support for the two-state solution.”

“Singapore will continue to support the Palestinian Authority’s capacity-building programmes and assist international efforts for the long-term reconstruction of Gaza,” the ministry added.

In a Facebook post on Nov 3, Dr Balakrishnan noted that the fragile first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza is still holding, adding: “This is an important window to consolidate peace and meet urgent humanitarian needs on the ground.”

He added that on behalf of Singapore, he will be handing over a cheque of US$500,000 (S$652,000) to the World Food Programme (WFP) to support its vital and necessary work. “The humanitarian needs on the ground are immense,” he said.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is one of the world’s largest humanitarian organisations addressing hunger and promoting food security.

The ceasefire agreement, which took effect on Oct 10, marked the start of the first phase of a deal brokered by international mediators to end the fighting in Gaza after two years, and allow humanitarian aid to flow into the enclave.

Hamas’ unprecedented

attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023

, killed about 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and another 250 were taken as hostages into Gaza. Israel’s military response has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians and left much of Gaza in ruins.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas

released its remaining living hostages

, while Israel began a partial withdrawal of its troops from Gaza and permitted greater humanitarian access. The truce was seen as the most significant step toward ending the two-year conflict and paving the way for the territory’s eventual reconstruction.

Talks are ongoing on the next phases of the peace plan, including arrangements for Gaza’s governance and long-term security.

Dr Balakrishnan had, in

calls with his counterparts from the Palestinian Authority and Israel

in September, stressed Singapore’s position that a negotiated two-state solution is the only viable pathway to achieving a comprehensive, just and durable solution to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He also hoped that both sides would return to direct negotiations towards a two-state solution.

On Nov 3, Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore continues to reiterate its support for a negotiated two-state solution, consistent with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, “as the only path to a just and lasting peace”.

“Singapore has good access and reservoirs of trust on both sides in this longstanding and tragic conflict. This allows us to better understand the situation on the ground and to contribute constructively,” he added.

Singapore has thus far contributed

10 tranches of aid for Gaza

worth more than $24 million, including through humanitarian airdrops. Over the past two years, it has also worked with partners such as the Egyptian Red Crescent, Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation, WFP and several Egyptian hospitals to channel aid to affected civilians.

Beyond emergency relief, Singapore has also stepped up its capacity-building support for the Palestinian Authority. Under its $10 million Enhanced Technical Assistance Package, more than 800 Palestinian officials have been trained in fields such as public administration, digitalisation and public health, and postgraduate scholarships have been offered in Singapore.

Singapore will also

launch two new initiatives in 2026

. The first, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, will train members of the Palestinian Civil Police Force in community policing. The second is a programme for young and emerging Palestinian leaders to share Singapore’s experience in governance and public administration.

Dr Balakrishnan will be accompanied by MPs Yip Hon Weng and Hazlina Abdul Halim – both members of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs – as well as MFA officials.