President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has called on the international community to take decisive and immediate action to stop the escalating violence in Gaza and ensure an immediate cessation of hostilities.

His appeal comes as Israel launched intensified ground operations in Gaza, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. In a statement shared on X, President Dr Muizzu strongly condemned Israel’s continued targeting of innocent civilians amid intensifying genocidal assaults.

The Maldives has reiterated its call for the protection of civilian lives, urging all parties to adhere to international legal and moral obligations. The Government has also demanded that Israel be held accountable for its actions.

Over the past three days, Israel has ramped up its ground offensive in an effort to dismantle Hamas and claim victory in the Gaza Strip. In the last 24 hours alone, 144 Palestinians have been killed, including a significant number of women and children.

Adding to the humanitarian crisis, Israel has blocked aid from entering Gaza for more than two months, contributing to a worsening famine. However, under mounting international pressure, Israel has recently announced it will allow a limited quantity of humanitarian aid into the territory.