It was Gilbert Goh's experience of growing up a foster child that motivated him to work with displaced children.
The Singaporean humanitarian was working with Palestinian and Syrian refugees in Lebanon on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Israel invaded Gaza soon afterwards, starting a war during which Palestinian authorities say more than 55,000 people have been killed.
Around 90 per cent of schools in Gaza have since been partially or fully destroyed, according to the United Nations.
Shaker Al-Durra, a school principal for students in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, has also become an aid worker by necessity over the past 20 months.
With the support of international donors, he said learning centres had continued to provide education for around 1,600 children.
Mr Goh's organisation, Love Aid Singapore, started as a "one-man NGO" but has managed to raise more than $S5.3 million ($6.3 million) from regular Singaporeans for humanitarian work in Gaza.
"A lot of Muslims are generous and they donated to the Palestinian cause," he said.
In the strip's north and south, Singaporean funds have supported the establishment of soup kitchens.
"Our children are starving," Mr Al-Durra told the ABC through an interpreter in Gaza.
At least 94 per cent of hospitals in Gaza are damaged, according to the World Health Organization, so Love Aid Singapore helped build a polyclinic in Bureij from scratch.
It was treating 100 to 150 patients daily, Mr Goh said, with a focus on rehabilitating amputees.
UNICEF says Gaza is home to the highest number of child amputees per capita on earth.
The Singaporean government has provided more than $22 million in aid to Gaza since October 2023, but had stopped short of public criticism of Israel's actions until recently.
"We have always said that Israel had a right to defend itself," said Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong last month.
"Unfortunately, Israel's response has gone too far and its actions have caused terrible humanitarian disaster."
Singapore's 'special relationship' with Israel
A "deep, dark, secret love affair" is how Israeli newspapers have described it.
Quiet military cooperation between Israel and Singapore began in the 1960s, starting what is widely seen as a special relationship.
Former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo has noted "a certain kindred spirit" between the two nations.
Marking 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2019, Mr Yeo said: "It has always been our fervent hope that Singapore can be a benefit to Israel, to whom we owe a deep, eternal debt of gratitude."
The secretive nature of ties sought to avoid backlash from Singapore's neighbours.
Neither Indonesia nor Malaysia have diplomatic relations with Israel — and both governments are strident advocates of the Palestinian cause.
Israel provided the young city-state advice on matters such as internal security, police and prisons, said Meron Medzini, professor emeritus in Asian studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
"Israel was also a model for health services and education, being a small country lacking any natural resources, besieged by its neighbours and dependent on its human capital," he said.
"Singapore is a major base for a number of Israeli companies who operate in South-East Asia … mainly in arms, electronics, pharmaceutical products and advanced technology."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, Singapore police used drones developed by Israeli firm Airobotics to enforce social distancing measures.
Israel is a regular fixture at the Singapore Airshow, which attracts high-level military delegations seeking to purchase the latest in defence technology.
In response to calls from activists for Singapore to stop purchasing Israeli weapons due to the war in Gaza, Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has said the government does not divulge details of defence sales "for national security reasons".
The importance of the diplomatic relationship has invited scrutiny of Mr Goh's activities by Singaporean authorities.
"The government is watching us, yeah, very closely," he said.
"I think the government is afraid we are funding terrorism. It's a very big fear in Singapore."
Still, Mr Goh said he believed the government was quietly supportive of the fact Singapore's flag was flying high over aid projects in Gaza.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Commissioner of Charities were contacted for comment.
Shifting rhetoric from Singapore
Despite its close ties, Singapore has consistently voted against Israel at the UN General Assembly, including a resolution in December 2024 demanding an end to the occupation of Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
And following growing condemnation of Israel from Western allies, Mr Wong in May delivered his strongest criticism yet.
During a visit to Singapore by French President Emmanuel Macron, Mr Wong said Israel's restriction of humanitarian support to Gaza was "completely unacceptable" and "a likely breach of international humanitarian law", calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and unhindered delivery of aid.
"Singapore also supports the right of the Palestinian people to their own homeland," Mr Wong added.
"That is the only way for a comprehensive, just and durable solution to this long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict."
Singapore's Acting Minister In Charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim went further, echoing former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert's claim that Israel was committing war crimes in Gaza.
"It pains me to say this, considering Israel's contributions to Singapore in our early years, but I think we need to be frank," Dr Ibrahim told reporters.
"I fear an increasing number of people worldwide will agree with Mr Ehud, including myself.
"The suffering of the Palestinian civilians in occupied territories, including children, is unbearable," he said.
Israel has consistently denied allegations that it has committed war crimes in Gaza, maintaining its military operations are conducted in self-defence and that it takes steps to mitigate civilian harm.
Hope for the future
Despite Singapore being a country of just 5.5 million citizens, Mr Goh said it was capable of achieving the extraordinary.
"We are small, we are generous, we are very focused. I think we can do wonders in the humanitarian world."
He said that Palestinians in Gaza needed hope and that providing displaced people with some sense of normality was important.
"It brings to them that we are not leaving them … Singaporeans are there for you — we have your back."
Back in Gaza, Mr Al-Durra said he was desperate for violence to end.
Humanitarian agencies say more than 625,000 students in Gaza have not been able to attend school since the beginning of the war.
"We work on humanity's side. We love peace. I hope that people in Gaza follow their dreams … complete their education," Mr Al-Durra said.
"I hope that Palestinian children live in peace and the Israeli children live in peace."
