Love Aid S'pore charity won't proceed with partnership with Palestinian hospital, exploring alternatives - Mothership
The charity is exploring alternatives and moving forward independently.
Singaporean activist Gilbert Goh, 65, will not proceed with any partnership with a Palestinian hospital to avoid any ambiguity regarding the "independence, neutrality, and humanitarian purpose" of his charity.
His Love Aid Singapore (LAS) charity has been distributing food and providing other aid in West Bank, Palestine.
Goh's statement to Mothership on Sep. 24 via his charity came after three ministries in Singapore said on Sep. 22 that LAS does not require the Singapore government's approval for its humanitarian operations in Palestine.
LAS was told it has to register with the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) Ministry of Interior (MOI) if it carries out humanitarian operations in the West Bank and Gaza.
Before the Singapore ministries' joint statement was issued, Goh had met the Office of the Commissioner of Charities (COC) on Sep. 21.
The COC and Goh discussed LAS's intention to sign a memorandum of understanding with Al-Awda Hospital as a partner.
The COC had told Goh that whether LAS proceeded with the agreement was its decision, but stressed the importance of conducting proper due diligence on potential partners.
It added that, according to the Palestinian Authority (PA), Al-Awda was not affiliated with the authority, and that the PA had no role in managing the hospital.
Al-Awda Hospital was previously known as the Union of Health Work Committees.
The hospital is operated by the Al-Awda Health and Community Association (AWDA), which is allegedly affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Many countries, including the U.S., Japan, and Canada, have designated PFLP as a terrorist organisation.
However, Al-Awda Hospital has worked with organisations like UNICEF Palestine in receiving aid for people in Gaza and has been featured by the United Nations for its lifesaving work for children.
LAS explained in its statement that it understands that Al-Awda participates in the Gaza Health Cluster in humanitarian coordination meetings with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as well as other partners.
"However, LAS is not in a position to independently verify or comment conclusively on allegations concerning political affiliations," the organisation said.
According to Goh, the Singapore Love Polyclinic was established in Gaza nearly a year ago.
Its facilities have been run by a team selected directly by LAS and operate independently.
LAS said the Palestinian Ministry of Health authorities in Gaza requested that the clinic operate through a partnership arrangement, but LAS did not proceed with it.
LAS was then advised that the clinic should work through a locally registered Palestinian health organisation, and Al-Awda was proposed as one of the established healthcare organisations.
To reopen the clinic, LAS sought to identify an "appropriate and compliant solution".
Given the concerns raised, however, LAS's team in Gaza has decided not to proceed with the proposed partnership with Al-Awda.
We want to avoid any ambiguity regarding the independence, neutrality, and humanitarian purpose of LAS operations. We will therefore explore an alternative arrangement that allows the Singapore Love Polyclinic to reopen under an appropriate, transparent, and compliant structure.
LAS added that it prefers to retain direct leadership and oversight of the clinic as it is "an important medical facility with substantial capacity to serve the local population, and it carries Singapore’s name".
