Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refuted claims that the Government of the Maldives is discussing establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.
Maldivian media outlets have published reports citing foreign agencies as stating that the Maldives has been attempting to establish relations with Israel. The foreign ministry stated the government has made no attempts or held discussions on establishing ties with the middle eastern country.
The Maldives continues to voice out in favour of Palestine and the rights of its citizens on several international platforms, strongly condemning the brutal terror attacks conducted by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. Last year, the Maldives joined the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in calling for an immediate halt to attacks by Israeli forces on Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. As such, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid condemned the violent attacks on Palestinian civilians by Israeli forces in occupied East Jerusalem and Gaza, at the Open-Ended Virtual Extraordinary Meeting of the OIC Executive Committee at the Level of Foreign Ministers.
Furthermore, in his general debate statement at the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last year, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih called on the United Nations (UN), on behalf of the Maldivian people, to fully recognise the Palestinian State. Addressing the UNGA, President Solih said the world continues to bear witness to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people being so wantonly violated, in ever-escalating ways, by Israel. He said the government and the people of the Maldives stand firmly and resolutely with the Palestinian people, and that the Maldives will continue to fight for the full recognition of Palestine as an independent state.
The Palestine Administration had expressed gratitude to President Solih for addressing Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian lands.