Hundreds of people gathered in the capital Male’ on Friday echoing calls for an independent State of Palestine and to end the genocide in Gaza.
People of all ages, carrying placards and banners to voice their support for Palestine gathered at Maafannu Turf Grounds in the west of Male’, called on the international community
The nationwide movement was organised by several civil society organisations led by the International Aid Campaign (IAC).
The movement part of the Global Sumud Flotilla campaigning to break the illegal siege on Gaza by sea, open a humanitarian corridor, and end the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people was mirrored in around 50 islands across the Maldives, according to the organisers.
Several cabinet ministers, senior government and state officials along with prominent religious scholars also joined the gathering putting up a united front against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.
Two Palestinians who had suffered Israeli atrocities shared their experiences at the gathering.
The mass gathering in Male’ captured global attention after it was covered by Al Jazeera news channels.
The gathering was held less than a day after the Maldives strongly condemned the remarks made by the Prime Minister of the Israeli occupation government regarding the so-called “Vision of Greater Israel,” and expressed its firm rejection of the settlement and expansionist plans reflected in those statements.
For eighteen months, the Maldives has consistently ranked among the most vocal nations on the Palestinian issue, especially the genocide in Gaza, issuing a substantial number of statements across international forums.
The government has backed its rhetoric with policy action, actively participating in three legal proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) while also imposing an official ban on entry for individuals holding Israeli passports, an unprecedented move underscoring its firm stance.