The Maldives has welcomed the United Nations General Assembly’s push for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s obligations concerning humanitarian access in Palestine.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Maldivian government described the adoption of the resolution as “a crucial step forward to uphold the work and mission of the United Nations, humanitarian organisations, and third States to protect and preserve humanitarian operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
The resolution, spearheaded by Norway alongside several other nations, was adopted on Thursday with 137 votes in favour. The Maldives was among the co-sponsors of the resolution, which highlights the grave humanitarian challenges in Palestine and calls on the ICJ to assess Israel’s obligations under international law concerning the activities of the UN, international organisations, and other states in Palestine.
The Maldives, in its statement, also expressed appreciation for the strong international backing for the resolution, stating it “regards the support as a testament to the commitment to realise a sovereign and independent Palestinian State based on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
The resolution comes amidst continuing Israeli atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank, with mounting calls for international accountability and enhanced humanitarian assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.