The Maldivian government has condemned Israel’s decision to reclassify land in the occupied West Bank, saying the move violates international law and further undermines prospects for a negotiated peace.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, the government said the decision forms part of actions linked to settlement activity in the occupied territories, which it said infringes on the rights of Palestinians and contravenes international legal obligations and relevant United Nations resolutions.

The government called on the international community to take concrete steps to halt practices it described as illegal and to ensure accountability for actions that breach international law.

The statement reiterated the Maldives’ support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination, and reaffirmed its position in favour of the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine.