A Palestinian couple in Gaza named their newborn daughter Singapore after the city-state provided humanitarian support during the war.
The baby girl was born on 16 Oct 2025, weighing 2.7kg. Her birth certificate was shared by Love Aid Singapore.
Father Works at Singapore-Funded Kitchen
Hamdan Hadad, the baby’s father, worked as a cook at a soup kitchen operated by Love Aid Singapore for two years.
The humanitarian organisation is led by Singaporean activist Gilbert Goh. It provides cooked meals to Palestinians in Gaza.
Mother Relied on Soup Kitchen During Pregnancy
Hamdan’s wife depended on the soup kitchen for nourishment throughout her pregnancy.
The regular meals helped her survive the war-induced famine during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“I’m happy and I want to name her Singapore because I really love them,” Hamdan said while carrying his newborn daughter.
First Palestinian Child Named Singapore
The baby is the first Palestinian child in Gaza to be named after the city-state, Love Aid Singapore confirmed.
The organisation posted a photo of the baby’s birth certificate on Instagram on 18 Oct 2025.
Love Aid Singapore wished the baby good health. The group expressed hope that she “will be welcomed into a bright new world” through a permanent ceasefire.
Background of Israel-Hamas Conflict
The Israel-Hamas conflict broke out in 2023 after Hamas’ 7 Oct attack and kidnapping of more than 250 hostages.
Israel responded with a military offensive against Hamas. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that over 67,000 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip, many of them women and children.
A ceasefire implemented in phases started on 10 Oct 2025.
Singapore’s Humanitarian Contributions
The Singapore Red Cross contributed at least $1.9 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza since 2023.
Singapore and Singaporeans collectively provided over $23 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza as of Sep 2025.
Love Aid Singapore raised $5.3 million from regular Singaporeans for humanitarian work in Gaza as of Jun 2025, according to ABC News.
The funds supported soup kitchens and a polyclinic in the war-torn territory.
