"This is an extremely disturbing development," Singapore said about reports that Israel has begun ground operations in the Gaza strip in Palestine, according to Bernama. "It can only exacerbate the already grave humanitarian situation," Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry said in response to media queries over the ground assault on Gaza. Media reports said Israel has launched a major ground invasion of the Gaza strip on Saturday night, moving in tanks, infantry and artillery units after eight days of relentless air attacks failed to halt Hamas rocket fire from the narrow coastal territory. Singapore reiterated its recent call that all parties involved in the Gaza conflict exercise maximum restraint and that an immediate cease-fire could be agreed to so that urgent humanitarian concerns could be addressed. "A cease-fire should also be the first step in a process to ensure that the events that had led to the current situation will not be repeated and to establish a stable modus vivendi in Gaza that is in the best long-term interests of both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples," the ministry said.
