The Maldivian delegation walked out of the UN General Assembly session in protest before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address.
Several countries, including the Maldives, walked out of the UN General Assembly session currently under way as the Israeli Prime Minister began his speech. This is the third consecutive year that the Maldives has taken such action. This year, the Maldivian delegation is being led by Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef.
Following the departure of the Maldivian delegation from the hall where the UN General Assembly session was being held, Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam said in a post shared on social media that all countries must abide by international law equally and that no country is above international law. She said the Maldives would not be present in such an environment and would not allow such actions to become normalised.
Foreign Minister Iruthisham reiterated that the Maldives stands with Palestine. She also repeated the Maldives' call for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and for Palestine to be granted full membership of the United Nations.
The Maldives has continued to strongly condemn, at various international forums, the crimes being committed by Israel in Gaza, including the genocide being carried out against Palestinians and the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories in violation of international law. The Maldives has also repeatedly called for Israel to be held accountable and brought to justice.
The current government has taken a stronger position on the Palestinian issue at international forums than previous governments. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that the Maldives' foreign policy is based on maintaining good relations with all countries, except Israel, while prioritising the interests of Maldivians. In line with this policy, the Maldives has also amended its laws to prevent holders of Israeli passports from entering the Maldives.
In addition to UN forums, the Maldives has continued to raise the Palestinian issue at all other international platforms where it is represented, calling for justice for the Palestinian people.