
Israel and Hamas – Oct. 20
In light of the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, political unity in the region has weakened, especially in ASEAN. Concerns about the economic impact, particularly on the supply and price of oil, are rising with countries monitoring the situation closely. While Biden’s visit has not yet sparked many conversations, the attack on the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City has resulted in several reactions from leaders and people in Asia. There’s also rising pressure on social media companies to tackle disinformation, terrorist content, and hate speech pertaining to the conflict.
- Experts raise concerns that varying stances within ASEAN on the Israel-Hamas conflict could have implications for the region’s unity. ASEAN has consistently maintained that a comprehensive, just, and sustainable solution is needed to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East. However, ASEAN nations have adopted varying stances on the Israel-Hamas conflict and this lack of a unified stance could diminish the bloc’s relevance on the global stage. The inaugural summit between ASEAN leaders and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will be taking place on 20 October 2023, in Riyadh. There are expectations that ASEAN may be able to issue a unified statement on the conflict.
- Worries over the economic impact of the conflict on Asia continue. Shares in Asia stuttered on 20 October as the blast at the Gaza hospital dealt a blow to any hopes for containing the crisis. During the Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific press conference, Krishna Srinivasan, IMF Director for the Asia and Pacific Department, stated that while the IMF was still assessing the conflict’s effect on the global economy, it could potentially push oil prices higher, which could, in turn, raise the prices of goods in many parts of the world. As Asia is dependent on oil imports, heightened tensions could affect the passage of tankers, and inflate insurance and transport costs. Debt-strapped nations in the region would likely be the worst hit.
- Bidens’ visit to Israel has not yet sparked responses in Asia and among regional leaders. Conversations in the media and social media are focused on sharing information about what Biden said during the visit and his seeking to spend billions more dollars to help Israel fight Hamas.
- The explosion at Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City has resulted in mixed reactions from country leaders ranging from concerns to horror, and condemnation. The incident has only furthered Malaysia and Indonesia’s narrative to support the Palestinians. China and India have expressed shock and condemnation. Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan sent condolence letters to the Palestinian Authority.
- The explosion at the hospital also resulted in protests in cities across Asia. In Pakistan, the protesters have moved beyond expressions of solidarity with Palestinians to take a more hostile stance against the West. In Singapore, authorities have said they would deny all permit applications from citizens seeking to organize public events related to the Israel-Gaza war. The measure extends to the republic’s sole free speech zone where protests generally do not require police approval.
- Conversations on X/Twitter related to the conflict have risen over the last few days. From sharing news on the conflict, people are now sharing more personal opinions on the horrors of the conflict, especially the explosion at the hospital and its effect on civilians. However, with this rise in online conversations, social media companies, especially TikTok, Meta, and X, have been facing pressure to crack down on violent content, hate speech, and disinformation. This pressure is only intensifying with the EU demanding TikTok and Meta detail their organization’s efforts to battle disinformation pertaining to the conflict.
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