Based on the information provided by the father and the website at the time, the authorities assessed that participation in the Sar-El volunteer programme did not constitute service in a foreign military, said MHA and MINDEF.
However, the authorities also told him that his child’s participation was not endorsed or authorised, and would be undertaken at the individual’s own risk.
“By the time the authorities replied to … (the father’s) email, (the father and son) had completed their two-week volunteer programme with Sar-El,” said MHA and MINDEF.
No action was taken against the pair as their volunteer activities at the time did not involve combat roles.
The ministries added that there was no information to suggest that the pair’s volunteering in Sar-El was related to a recent report that two Singaporeans may be among those who fought for the IDF during the conflict in Gaza.
Sometime around 2018 or 2019, the son wrote a blog post which included a photograph of himself in a National Cadet Corps ceremonial uniform.
The post included a hyperlink to his website, which contained a link to redirect users to the Sar-El Volunteer Corps (Singapore) website.
In 2025, the Internal Security Department (ISD) engaged the father and son after learning about the blog post, said MHA and MINDEF.
Based on its investigations, ISD concluded that the pair were not involved in any military activities with the IDF, said the ministries.
“After ISD’s engagement with them, (the son) took down the blog post,” they said, adding that the pair are no longer involved with Sar-El.
“Since 2016, MINDEF has not evaluated any similar requests with respect to Sar-El.”
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However, the authorities also told him that his child’s participation was not endorsed or authorised, and would be undertaken at the individual’s own risk.
“By the time the authorities replied to … (the father’s) email, (the father and son) had completed their two-week volunteer programme with Sar-El,” said MHA and MINDEF.
No action was taken against the pair as their volunteer activities at the time did not involve combat roles.
The ministries added that there was no information to suggest that the pair’s volunteering in Sar-El was related to a recent report that two Singaporeans may be among those who fought for the IDF during the conflict in Gaza.
BLOG POSTS
Sometime around 2018 or 2019, the son wrote a blog post which included a photograph of himself in a National Cadet Corps ceremonial uniform.
The post included a hyperlink to his website, which contained a link to redirect users to the Sar-El Volunteer Corps (Singapore) website.
In 2025, the Internal Security Department (ISD) engaged the father and son after learning about the blog post, said MHA and MINDEF.
Based on its investigations, ISD concluded that the pair were not involved in any military activities with the IDF, said the ministries.
“After ISD’s engagement with them, (the son) took down the blog post,” they said, adding that the pair are no longer involved with Sar-El.
“Since 2016, MINDEF has not evaluated any similar requests with respect to Sar-El.”
Continue reading...