SINGAPORE — A Palestinian baby girl has been named “Singapore” in a touching tribute to a Singaporean charity that helped sustain her family amid Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, The Straits Times reported today.

Born on Thursday weighing 2.7kg, the infant’s father, Hamdan Hadad, works as a cook at a soup kitchen run by Love Aid Singapore, a volunteer group led by Singaporean activist Gilbert Goh.

Hamdan said his wife relied on meals from the kitchen throughout her pregnancy as famine deepened during the Israel-Hamas conflict. 

“I’m happy and I want to name her Singapore because I really love them,” he said while holding his newborn daughter.

Love Aid Singapore described her as the first Palestinian baby to be named after the city-state, posting a photo of her birth certificate on Instagram. 

“We wish the baby good health,” the group wrote yesterday, adding its hope that she “will be welcomed into a bright new world” through a permanent ceasefire.

The Singapore Red Cross has contributed at least S$1.9 million (RM6.2 million) in humanitarian aid to Gaza since 2023, according to the report.

The baby’s birth comes amid ongoing efforts to rebuild lives in the enclave following months of conflict that began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which prompted a deadly retaliatory campaign. 

A phased ceasefire has been in place since October 10.