The Maldives government has expressed its strong condemnation of the Israeli military’s latest attacks on the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government labelled these attacks as “deliberate acts of violence against the innocent civilian population of Palestine” and a “gross violation of international humanitarian law, amounting to a war crime.”

The health ministry in Gaza has reported that the Israeli bombardment of the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp has resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people and left scores of others wounded. Since 7 October, Israel has killed at least 8,525 Palestinians in Gaza, including over 3,500 children. The attacks have also left over 21,543 people wounded, including over 2,000 children and over 1,400 women.

In the statement, the Maldives reiterated its “call upon the international community to take decisive measures to stop these attacks on innocent civilians” and called for “an immediate ceasefire, to allow the unobstructed facilitation of humanitarian aid into Gaza, in accordance with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution passed on 27 October 2023.”

International humanitarian organisations have also condemned Israel’s attack on the Jabalia refugee camp and called the air raid a “wake-up call” to world leaders to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. Palestinian authorities in Gaza have reported that more than 150 people were wounded in the Israeli air raid on the camp.

An Israeli military official confirmed to CNN that the attack on the Jabalia refugee camp was carried out by Israel. CNN quoted the official as saying, “There was a very senior Hamas commander in that area.”

Israel has also imposed a “complete siege” on Gaza, severely restricting access to water, electricity, food, and fuel for more than 2.3 million residents of the besieged enclave. United Nations officials have reported that more than half of Gaza’s population has been displaced by the Israeli attacks.