The Maldives has once again strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli military aggression against innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the government condemned the Israeli military demands that 1.2 million civilians in northern Gaza relocate to its south within 24 hours, adding it must be reversed as it is absent of any guarantees of safety or return, and would amount to the war crime of forcible transfer. The statement noted the indiscriminate attacks are already claiming the lives of hundreds of innocent civilian Palestinians, including women and children, and wounding thousands more. The statement highlighted the attacks have further destroyed critical infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, United Nations facilities, residential buildings, and places of worship.
The government said the Maldives considers these deliberate acts of aggression against the innocent civilian population of Palestine a blatant disregard and violation of international humanitarian law, tantamount to a war crime. Therefore, the Maldives called on the international community to use all possible measures to stop the ongoing inhumane attacks against innocent civilians in Palestine and to ensure the opening of humanitarian corridors to facilitate the urgent delivery of medicines, food supplies, and basic needs to the Gaza Strip.
The statement further said the government and people of the Maldives reiterate their commitment and unconditional support to the Palestinian people in their legitimate pursuit to attain their inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination. The government expressed the belief that a lasting and sustainable solution to the conflict can only be possible through the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.