The Maldives on Sunday condemned what it described as “genocidal aggression” by Israeli forces in Gaza and urged the international community to act immediately to hold Israel accountable for repeated violations of international law.
In a strongly worded statement, the Maldivian government said it “strongly condemns the continued genocidal aggression carried out by Israeli forces against innocent civilians in Gaza.”
The statement reiterated the country’s call for a two-state solution and reaffirmed its “unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
The condemnation comes as Israeli airstrikes continue to hammer Gaza from north to south, with at least 46 people killed on Monday, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. A strike on a school in Nuseirat also reportedly killed several children, the Wafa news agency said.
Israeli forces have issued new evacuation orders for Khan Younis, warning of an “unprecedented” assault. Thousands of families are fleeing toward al-Mawasi, although the area has also been hit in recent days, according to Al Jazeera.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said limited humanitarian aid would be allowed into Gaza to alleviate pressure from allies concerned by growing images of famine. However, there remains no timeline for when food shipments will resume.
According to the United Nations and Palestinian officials, Israeli forces have killed more than 61,700 people in Gaza since October 7, 2023, the majority of them civilians, including nearly 17,500 children. An estimated 14,200 others remain missing and are presumed dead, while more than 111,000 have been injured.
Israeli attacks have caused widespread damage to Gaza’s civilian infrastructure. UN data show 92% of homes have been damaged or destroyed, along with 80% of commercial facilities and nearly 90% of schools. Since the the start its offensive in Gaza, Israeli military has issued over 65 evacuation orders, forcing nearly 80% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents to flee their homes.
For almost two decades, Israel has maintained a strict blockade on Gaza, controlling its airspace, waters, and the movement of goods and people in and out of the territory. The situation has deteriorated sharply since Israel launched indiscriminate bombing and ground assaults on Gaza, following attacks by Palestinian resistance groups on Israeli military sites and illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories near Gaza on 7 October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,100 Israelis, most of whom were soldiers and security personnel.
Netanyahu, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, has vowed to press on with the ground offensive, warning that Gaza will be turned into a “deserted island” and calling on Palestinians to leave the enclave—or risk losing their lives.