Thousands of people packed into Malé’s Maafannu Stadium on 15 August 2025 in a nationwide show of solidarity with Palestine, calling for Israel to lift the Gaza blockade and end the occupation. The Gaumee Bodu Ehvaun, organised by the International Aid Campaign (IAC), drew participants from across the country, alongside community groups and more than 50 local councils.

Senior Government officials, including the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, other cabinet members, political leaders, as well as former Vice-President Faisal Naseem, attended the event, which also featured international activists and two Palestinians who shared first-hand accounts from the conflict. The IAC said the mobilisation aimed to press governments for stronger action to secure humanitarian access and uphold Palestinian rights.

Palestinian journalist Mansour Shouman, speaking to the crowd, reflected on the historical and current struggles faced by the Muslim world. “Since World War II, we have lost the Islamic authority. We have lost our independent Islamic state. Right now, we are changing the course of history. And what you are doing now will continue for many years,” he said. Commending the Maldives for its solidarity, he added, “You are only half a million, but mashallah, your effort is great, and this is because of the Iman of the people, because of the strong will and intentions which I can feel since I have arrived.”

Addressing the rally, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed stated “We are calling for the borders to be opened. We condemn Israel’s atrocities against the people of Gaza. We condemn the collusion of major global leaders in the genocide through their continued assistance to Israel.”

“A lot of aid obtained through donations from the public are in trucks, readied for entry at the Rafah border, and in Egypt and Jordan. However, due to the borders being closed, the people of Palestine remain deprived of lifesaving basic needs, and food, and continue to be martyred,” an IAC representative said in an interview on State media.

Organisers said the rally formed part of the Global Sumud Flotilla - a movement active since 2007 protesting the 18-year blockade of Gaza and restrictions on the flow of goods by land, sea and air. They described the Maldivian event as one of the largest such mobilisations to date, adding that visuals from the rally had attracted international attention and were aired by Al Jazeera.

The demonstration concluded with special prayers for the Palestinian people, with organisers urging continued public advocacy and coordinated efforts to ensure humanitarian corridors remain open and civilian protection is prioritised.

Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories, has been widely condemned for violating international law and obstructing efforts toward a two-state solution. The latest development came with Israel’s announcement of its so-called “Vision of Greater Israel” plan, which the Maldives strongly rejected. In a post on X, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu warned that the proposal, combined with inflammatory rhetoric, risked escalating tensions and deepening the humanitarian crisis, urging urgent global action to protect Palestinian rights.