President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed the Maldives’ unwavering support for the Palestinian people, declaring that the nation will not consider its responsibilities fulfilled until Palestine is free.

In a written interview with Anadolu Agency, President Dr Muizzu strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing aggression in Gaza and called on the international community to take decisive action. He stressed that “Israel must be held accountable through political pressure, sanctions, and restrictions” to make clear that such crimes cannot be tolerated.

The President, who imposed a ban on Israeli passport holders entering the Maldives in April, described Israel’s attacks on civilian aid vessels in international waters as “an insult to international law”. He asserted that true sovereignty is not defined by the size of a nation or the strength of its military, but by its commitment to moral conscience even under pressure.

President Dr Muizzu highlighted that the Maldives’ firm stance reflects its decades-long solidarity with the Palestinian cause. “We have banned Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives. We participated in the International Court of Justice case against Israel. We will continue to advocate for an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.

He added that the Maldives supports Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations and will persist in raising its voice for justice across global platforms. “Our duty will not be complete until Palestine is free,” he affirmed.

Criticising the global inaction towards Israel’s violations, President Dr Muizzu said institutions such as the United Nations and international courts are not inherently weak, but are rendered ineffective when powerful states prevent them from functioning as intended. He urged world leaders to act with moral clarity rather than political convenience, warning that sacrificing principles for profit undermines the global moral compass.

“The Maldives will continue to stand by the Palestinian people,” President Dr Muizzu concluded, emphasising that even small nations have the power to remind the world of its shared responsibility to uphold justice and humanity.