Echoes of Gaza reverberate in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore on war anniversary

As Gaza marks the grim anniversary of the outbreak of war, its echoes continue to resonate across Southeast Asia, a region home to hundreds of millions of Muslims who passionately identify with the Palestinian struggle.

Yet the war’s impact extends beyond religious lines, touching nations that lack such a direct affiliation. Businesses face boycotts, public opinion is sharply divided, and governments are grappling with a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale.

The hostilities, sparked by Hamas’ deadly incursion into Israel on October 7 last year, have morphed into a relentless siege on Palestinians, with the violence increasingly spilling over into Lebanon and threatening Iran. Such escalations endanger not only lives but also economic stability, raising concerns over oil prices and global inflation.

For Thailand – whose nationals, like India’s and Nepal’s, continue to work on Israeli farms – the spreading conflict represents a new threat to its citizens’ safety. The kingdom has already lost more than 40 citizens to the violence, with six still unaccounted for after being kidnapped by Hamas.

In Singapore, where social cohesion is paramount, the government has banned public demonstrations linked to the conflict and issued warnings against displaying symbols associated with it. Yet calls persist from supporters of the Palestinian cause to sever defence ties with Israel.

The leaders of Muslim-majority Malaysia and Indonesia have been vocal in their condemnation, denouncing the Israeli assault that has resulted in more than 40,000 Palestinian deaths – mostly civilians – according to United Nations figures.