A peaceful demonstration at the National University of Singapore (NUS) over the Israel-Hamas war has led to a police investigation, highlighting the intersection of student activism, academic collaborations, and Singapore’s strict public order laws.

A student-led protest at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has ignited a national debate, raising critical questions about freedom of expression, academic collaborations, and the limits of activism in one of the world’s most tightly governed societies. The event, spearheaded by a group called Students For Palestine Singapore, has drawn the attention of both authorities and university administrators, triggering an official investigation under Singapore’s strict Public Order Act.

A Protest with Powerful Symbolism

On 13 January 2025, students and alumni gathered outside the CREATE research building at NUS, staging a symbolic demonstration against the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The protest featured 124 pairs of shoes and a white burial shroud, representing Palestinian students killed in Gaza. The choice of location was deliberate—the CREATE building houses a research partnership between NUS, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Protesters allege that this collaboration indirectly supports Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

The Students’ Demands

Students For Palestine Singapore describes itself as a student-led movement advocating for Singapore to sever academic, economic, and political ties with Israel. Their key demands include:

• Ending partnerships with Israeli universities.
• Divesting from companies linked to Israel’s military-industrial complex.
• Ceasing police surveillance and intimidation of student activists.

The Legal Fallout: A Crackdown on Unauthorized Assemblies

Singapore’s Public Order Act (2009) imposes strict regulations on public assemblies. Under this law, organizing or participating in an unauthorized protest is a criminal offense, punishable by fines of up to SGD 10,000 (~USD 7,500), imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

Authorities confirmed that no permit was granted for this demonstration. The government has long maintained that political protests linked to foreign causes are unlikely to receive approval, citing concerns over public order and social stability.

NUS took immediate action by filing a police report against the protesters, calling the event an unauthorized act on campus property. This triggered a formal investigation into possible violations of the law.

Timeline of Events

• 13 January 2025 – Protest takes place outside CREATE at NUS, featuring shoes and a burial shroud as a tribute to Palestinian students killed in Gaza.

• 14 January 2025 – Images of the protest spread across social media, amplifying its message but also drawing scrutiny from authorities.

• 15 January 2025 – NUS confirms that it has lodged a police report.

• 16 January 2025 – The Singapore Police Force (SPF) announces an official investigation under the Public Order Act.

• 17 January 2025 – Local and international media outlets report on the growing controversy surrounding the protest.

Who Was Involved?

The protest was organized by Students For Palestine Singapore, a group comprising both current students and alumni from various universities across Singapore. No arrests have been reported so far, but police are continuing their investigations. Items used in the demonstration—including the shoes and burial shroud—have likely been documented as evidence.

Status of the Investigation

As of now, no formal charges have been filed against any participants. However, authorities are closely examining whether any laws were violated. Singapore’s zero-tolerance approach to unauthorized protests suggests that legal consequences may still follow.

A Turning Point for Activism in Singapore?

This protest is part of a global wave of student activism surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Around the world, university students have led calls for boycotts, divestments, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel, demanding an end to academic collaborations and economic ties with Israeli-linked companies.

In Singapore, the incident has rekindled discussions about the delicate balance between freedom of expression and public order laws. Protesters argue that academic partnerships with Israeli institutions constitute complicity in violence, while critics maintain that Singapore must prioritize diplomatic neutrality and internal stability.

Why This Matters

The NUS protest raises pivotal questions about:

• Academic Integrity – Should universities collaborate with institutions accused of supporting military actions?

• Freedom of Expression – How can students voice their concerns within a legal system that restricts public assemblies?

• Singapore’s Global Role – What stance should Singapore take in international conflicts such as the Israel-Hamas war?

Singapore has long positioned itself as a neutral global hub with a pragmatic approach to foreign policy.

However, as this case demonstrates, international conflicts do not exist in a vacuum—they reverberate within academic institutions, among young activists, and across digital spaces.

The NUS protest over the Israel-Hamas war is more than just an isolated campus event; it is a litmus test for the future of student activism in Singapore. While authorities focus on legal repercussions, the incident underscores a growing urgency for dialogue between students, universities, and policymakers.

As this story unfolds, it will reveal how Singapore navigates its intersection of law enforcement, academic freedom, and civic engagement in an era of heightened global tensions.

Sources:
[1] Police investigating student protest held in NUS on Israel-Hamas war
[2] Students hold protest over Israel-Hamas war in NUS, police investigating
[3] Students stage memorial at NUS to honour Palestinian victims and urge universities to cut Israeli ties
[4] Police investigating student protest at NUS
[5] Singapore police investigate NUS ‘shoes and shroud’ protest over Israel-Palestine conflict
[6] What do pro-Palestinian student protesters at US universities want?
[7] A look at the protests of the war in Gaza that have emerged at US colleges
[8] Students in Singapore demand their universities cut ties with Israel