The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdulla Khaleel has participated in a preparatory meeting at the level of Foreign Ministers held today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ahead of the Extraordinary Joint Arab-Islamic Summit scheduled for November 11.
In his remarks, Dr. Khaleel expressed profound concern over the worsening plight of the Palestinian people, highlighting the escalating violence and acts of genocide attributed to Israel. Emphasising the collective responsibility of the Islamic Ummah to alleviate Palestinian suffering, Dr. Khaleel called for concerted action beyond statements of solidarity. He urged the international community to take decisive steps to hold Israel accountable for its ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law, and he encouraged countries to work across multiple platforms, including the UN Security Council and the International Court of Justice.
Dr. Khaleel reaffirmed the Maldives' commitment to strengthening cooperation with Islamic countries in the pursuit of justice and peace for the Palestinian people. He underscored the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, as essential for achieving a lasting and just resolution.
The Joint Arab-Islamic Summit is being convened by the Government of Saudi Arabia, in coordination with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States, to address and explore actionable solutions to the ongoing suffering in Palestine and Lebanon.