Former President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has commended President Dr Mohamed Muizzu as the most resolute Maldivian leader in confronting Israel's genocide in Palestine, marking a clear departure from previous diplomatic approaches.

In an interview with PSM on the Government's first anniversary, Dr Waheed characterised the President's diplomatic initiatives as unprecedented in both courage and scope, saying this was the most decisive and principled stance taken by any Maldivian leader thus far.

"When the current Administration took office, they were faced with multifaceted challenges," Dr Waheed said. "We faced both domestic economic and diplomatic pressures, and the relationships with India and China had begun to show concerning signs of strain."

Dr Waheed noted that President Dr Muizzu deftly navigated these challenges shortly after taking office, bringing stability to the State.

Most significant, Dr Waheed emphasised, was President Dr Muizzu's unwavering advocacy for Palestinian sovereignty – a stance he noted few leaders had the courage to take. He particularly praised the President's compelling address at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit.

Dr Waheed expressed satisfaction with the Maldives' decision to send a formidable legal team supporting South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

He condemned Israel's actions in Palestine as among the century's most egregious crimes, praising President Dr Muizzu for his exceptional empathy in representing the Maldivian people's sentiments.