Maldives has reaffirmed it's unwavering commitment to supporting Palestine. The statement was made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, in a meeting held with the President of the State of Palestine Dr. Mahmoud Abbas, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79).
During the meeting, Palestinian President Dr. Abbas delivered a powerful message to the international community, calling for a permanent ceasefire. He said, "We are asking for a ceasefire because we are also human." The president also called for global support and collaboration to address the plight of the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, President Dr. Muizzu reiterated the Maldives steadfast commitment to support Palestine in every possible way. The president expressed optimism that the Palestinian people would receive all their rightful entitlement. He pledged the Maldives' continuous efforts to secure international recognition of Palestine as an independent and sovereign nation.
In response, President Dr. Abbas acknowledged and expressed appreciation for the Maldives' long-standing support. He said, "We are always aware of the Maldives' support for the Palestinian people, and we deeply appreciate your unwavering solidarity."
Furthermore, both presidents discussed areas of cooperation between the two nations. The meeting concluded with the leaders reaffirming their commitment to collaborating on matters of mutual interest and further strengthening diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Palestine.
Speaking to the international media following the meeting, President Dr. Muizzu reiterated that the Maldives will always stand in solidarity. The president affirmed that every single Maldivian support Palestine and strongly condemned the ongoing genocide and war crimes committed against the Palestinian people. He has been actively calling for an end to the genocide against Palestine on various platforms.
The Maldives and its people have always advocated strong support for Palestine and its people. The Maldives’ steadfast support for Palestine has been a consistent element of its foreign policy, reflecting the nation’s commitment to justice and human rights on the global stage. The Maldives co-sponsored the resolution to support the admission of the State of Palestine as a full member state of the United Nations, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2024.
The Maldives welcomed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s policies, has also submitted a written statement and an oral submission in this case. Additionally, a telethon was held in the Maldives on 12 June 2024, in solidarity with the people of Palestine, which raised over USD 1.2 million contributed by the public, which has been donated to UNRWA.