The Government of Maldives has condemned Israel’s expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and United Nations resolutions.

In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Maldives reaffirmed its unwavering support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while urging the international community to take decisive action to halt these activities.

Expressing deep concern over the implications of the settlement expansion, the Maldives stated that such actions undermine ongoing peace efforts in the region. The statement referenced United Nations Security Council Resolution 497 (1981), emphasising that the Golan Heights, occupied since 1967, remains an integral part of Syria.

The Maldives also called on Israel to end its illegal settlement activities and aggression in Syrian territories. It reiterated support for all regional and international efforts aimed at restoring peace, security, and stability in Syria, ensuring the aspirations of the Syrian people are realised.

Israel recently approved a plan to expand settlements in the Golan Heights, an area occupied since 1967 and effectively annexed in 1981 through Israeli law. The expansion focuses on the pre-existing occupied portion of the Golan Heights and not the additional Syrian land, including Mount Hermon, seized after the recent fall of Syria’s former leader Bashar al-Assad.

At present, the Golan Heights hosts around 31,000 Israeli settlers living in illegal settlements alongside minority groups such as the Druze, many of whom still identify as Syrian. The newly seized territory, once a demilitarised zone established after the 1973 war, highlights escalating tensions in the region.