President Mohamed Muizzu has welcomed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it a “crucial step” toward accountability for war crimes in Palestine.
“The Maldives respects the decisions of the ICC and underscores the importance of honouring and implementing the Court’s rulings,” Muizzu said on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday night. “Upholding international law and ensuring justice for the Palestinian people is essential to restoring peace in the region.”
His remarks came as his government faces mounting criticism over its failure to follow through on a pledge to ban Israeli passport holders from entering the country. The promise, made in June in response to public outrage over Israeli aggression in Palestine, remains unfulfilled five months later.
The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), which holds a parliamentary supermajority, on Wednesday rejected a motion to expedite amendments to the Maldives Immigration Act to implement the ban. The decision has sparked public outrage and accusations of hypocrisy, with critics pointing to the contrast between Muizzu’s vocal support for Palestinian justice and his government’s failure to deliver on its commitments.
While Muizzu’s statement reiterated support for international mechanisms to hold Israel accountable, activists and opposition figures have highlighted the disparity between his rhetoric and domestic actions.
In June, the Cabinet’s announcement of the travel ban was framed as a show of solidarity with Palestine. However, senior officials, including Attorney General Ahmed Usham, later cited “practical challenges” to implementing the ban—a justification widely criticised as a pretext for inaction.
The Maldives has seen increasing arrivals from Israel, even during the peak of public outcry over Israel’s war on Gaza. This, coupled with the arrest of citizens protesting against Israeli war, has fuelled perceptions that the government’s stance on Palestine is more symbolic than substantive.
The ICC issued the arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Palestine, a decision welcomed by several nations.