The Maldives has reiterated its strong commitment to the Palestinian cause. The statement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid after presenting the exequatur to Ragheb Ahmed Khalaf, the newly appointed Honorary Consul of Palestine in the Maldives.
The Maldives has repeatedly called on the international community to take immediate measures to stop the continuous attacks by the Israeli military on innocent Palestinian civilians. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) recently held an emergency session regarding Israeli attacks on Palestine, following the request made by member states including the Maldives. During the session, members expressed deep distress and concern over the recent escalation of violence and called for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire. They also advocated for a negotiated two-state solution for a lasting peace.
Furthermore, Maldivians have made donations to assist Palestinians affected by the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. As such, the International Aid Campaign (IAC) conducted a special telethon with the Maldivian media in support of Palestinians and collected over USD843,000 in donations. The Maldives has also provided USD100,000 in financial aid to assist Palestinian families, which was distributed by IAC volunteers. In addition, the government recently donated two million cans of tuna to the people of Palestine.