“It is at all times very worrying whenever you see humanitarian disaster growing, when harmless civilians endure – infants, youngsters, previous people, grandparents – typically as a aspect impact of navy battle, typically immediately focused,” mentioned Mr Lee.
Individuals in Singapore are additionally following occasions carefully, he mentioned.
“Significantly, I believe the Muslim inhabitants in Singapore are very agitated about it as a result of there is a sure feeling of empathy and compassion, significantly carefully felt for the Palestinian trigger,” mentioned Mr Lee, including that it’s “fully comprehensible”.
“However on the similar time, we additionally need to do what’s the wise factor to do for Singapore – to keep up relations with each the Israelis in addition to the Palestinians and to do what we are able to to supply humanitarian help for the civilian victims, in Gaza particularly, but in addition in Israel,” he mentioned.
In the long run, Singapore believes that the 2 sides need to stay in peace, Mr Lee mentioned including that “there’s actually no different”.
“The one approach to get there may be to have a two-state answer. In different phrases, for the Palestinians to acknowledge that Israelis have a proper to exist and to have a nation, a state and nation, and the Israelis to acknowledge that the Palestinians have a proper to exist and to stay in their very own nation,” he mentioned.
“It’s a must to work in direction of such an consequence. It seems to be very far off. It has not made quite a lot of progress within the final 10,15 years. However except you can also make progress in that path, we’re doomed to generations of bloodshed and tragedy.
“I do not assume both aspect actually needs that. The right way to get from right here to there? That is very onerous, however I do not assume we are able to afford to surrender on that aspiration.”
Parliamentary questions have been filed on the problem, and there might be a full dialogue when parliament sits in November, mentioned Mr Lee.
He additionally mentioned that the assault by Hamas towards giant numbers of civilians in Israel was “horrendous” and couldn’t be justified, however Israel, in exercising its proper to defend itself, ought to adjust to worldwide regulation.
“If we go by worldwide regulation, the Israelis can have the fitting to self-defence, to defend themselves … However in exercising that proper, you will have your self to adjust to worldwide regulation … and you need to do all you possibly can to minimise civilian casualties and tackle humanitarian considerations that are going to come up,” mentioned Mr Lee.
“And you need to do that not simply because the regulation is written that method, but in addition as a result of from Israel’s personal curiosity, when you simply reply emotionally, cathartically however in a method which does not assist to resolve an issue, you might get your self right into a a lot worse state of affairs.”