The Maldives has strongly condemned the proposed Israeli annexation of large parts of the occupied Palestinian territory.
The statement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, during the Open-Ended Virtual Extraordinary Meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Executive Committee at the level of Foreign Ministers on June 10. The meeting, chaired by Saudi Arabia, brought together foreign ministers of the OIC to discuss the Israeli proposal to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank in the state of Palestine.
In his remarks delivered at the meeting, Minister Shahid stated the proposed Israeli annexation of the West Bank is the latest in a series of steps taken by Israel that would destabilise regional peace and security. He conveyed the Maldives’ firm condemnation and rejection of the Israeli government’s plans to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank.
Minister Shahid stated the move compounds the suffering and existing vulnerabilities of the Palestinian people as the whole world is preoccupied with its response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The minister stated the annexation goes against a rules-based international order and undermines respect for international law. In this regard, he called on the international community to do more to ensure international law is upheld and the relevant UN resolutions are implemented to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands and prevent further unlawful settlements.
Furthermore, Minister Shahid reiterated the Maldives’ long-standing position of restoring the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination by ensuring an independent and sovereign state of Palestine, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The minister described the unilateral and unlawful plans to annex the occupied Palestinian territory as diminishing any hopes of a two-state solution, which can only be achieved from negotiations in good faith. He called for unity amongst the Islamic world in standing side-by-side with the people of Palestine in their struggle for justice, peace and freedom.
The OIC, comprising of 57 member states, has constantly advocated for the rights of Palestinian people and a two-state solution. The Maldives has been an active member of the OIC since becoming a member in 1976.