For Southeast Asians, Israel-Gaza war is more worrying than even South China Sea row – as extremism fears grow

The Israel-Gaza war has not only significantly influenced the domestic politics of Muslim-majority countries in Southeast Asia, but also sparked divisive views in the region. In the initial stages of the conflict following the Hamas attack on October 7, Southeast Asian countries displayed a range of official positions.

As the conflict surpasses the six-month mark – marked by escalating casualties, including aid workers, and a worsening humanitarian situation – multiple perspectives have emerged. The survey was conducted in January and February; even then, a large segment of regional respondents (41.8 per cent) voiced concerns that Israel’s attack on Gaza had gone too far.

By comparison, 17.7 per cent of respondents from the Philippines – the highest among all countries surveyed – maintained that Israel has the right to retaliate within the bounds of international law and felt that Hamas’ attack on Israel cannot be justified, a position endorsed by the Philippine government. Apart from identifying Israel as the “promised land” due to being majority Catholic/Christian, Filipinos’ economic considerations are also driving their support for Israel, with the country employing more than 30,000 Filipino workers, mostly as carers.

As the Israel-Gaza war worsens and remains high on Southeast Asia’s agenda, its governments are grappling with the potential impact of views that are seemingly growing divergent. The repercussions of this crisis will be significant, especially if it escalates into a wider conflict involving more Middle Eastern countries. The largest group of respondents (29.7 per cent) in the survey expressed concern over the potential rise of extremist activities, which could significantly affect domestic and regional