Maldives Foreign Minister Attends Extraordinary OIC Meeting on Gaza Crisis

Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel has arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to participate in the Extraordinary Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, scheduled for 25 August.

The Council of Foreign Ministers typically meets annually to address key issues affecting the Islamic Ummah. This extraordinary session has been convened at the request of Palestine, Türkiye and Iran to respond to urgent developments, including Israel’s ongoing military actions in the Palestinian territories.

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During the meeting, Foreign Minister Khaleel is expected to address Israel’s decision to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, describing it as a violation of international law. He will call for an immediate halt to these plans and urge the enforcement of international law and human rights obligations against Israel.

The Minister will highlight the use of starvation as a weapon of war against the people of Gaza, calling it a grave breach of international and human rights law. He will stress the importance of ensuring the safe, sustainable and uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance to all parts of Gaza.

Dr Khaleel is also expected to express concern over the lack of decisive international action to prevent Israel’s continued attacks on Gaza and the Palestinian population. He will emphasise the need for both words and actions to achieve a lasting resolution to the Palestinian issue.

The Foreign Minister will reiterate the Maldives’ longstanding support for Palestine, reaffirming the country’s commitment to advocating for Palestine’s recognition as an independent and sovereign state within the international community.

The OIC, an organisation of 57 member states, has consistently supported the Palestinian cause. The Maldives joined the OIC in 1976 and has maintained for 48 years that the only sustainable solution to the Palestinian issue is the establishment of a fully independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Maldives has repeatedly condemned Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories and continues to advocate for the protection of Palestinian rights.