بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye and Chair of the Council of Foreign Ministers, His Excellency Hakan Fidan,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of The Gambia, and Chair of the Islamic Summit, His Excellency Sering Modou Njie,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Chair of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud,
Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, His Excellency Hissein Brahim Taha,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,
I extend my deepest appreciation to the OIC for convening this timely meeting.
Excellencies, once again we find ourselves gathered in this hall, compelled to speak of the same tragedy.
The tragedy that has weighed heavily on our collective conscience time and again.
Each time we gather here, the plight of the Palestinian people has worsened.
More lives have been lost, more rights denied, more destruction and displacement inflicted.
The violence has intensified, and the injustice has heightened.
The brutal acts by Israel knows no bounds.
Deliberate starvation has now become a weapon of war.
With each passing day, we witness a grave human catastrophe unfolding before our very eyes,
while the promises of peace fades into empty echoes.
Excellencies,
Today, we will sit in this very room, make bold statements.
Tomorrow, we will return to our homes and carry on with our lives.
But the suffering of the Palestinian people will continue – relentless and devastating.
Today, we raise our voice here and speak of justice and peace.
Yet tomorrow, in Palestine, new tragedies will unfold.
The violence will escalate, the blockade will tighten, starvation will deepen, families will be torn apart, and children will continue to live in fear.
Every time I leave this hall; I carry with me the weight of the trials and tribulations of the Palestinian people that remain unchecked.
And the pictures of children starving, and suffering, especially haunt me.
Our words alone do not suffice.
Our words alone would not heal the wounds of the thousands of Palestinians living under a brutal and suffocating occupation.
We must ensure that our words translate into action, that they bring about real change.
The genocidal acts of Israel must not go unanswered.
The Maldives condemns Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza. This is a blatant violation of international law.
We must take decisive steps to hold Israel accountable for its continued violations of the international and humanitarian law.
The Maldives will never waiver in our commitment to the Palestinian cause.
We may be small, but our determination is steadfast.
In April of this year, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu took the bold step of signing into law the decision to prohibit entry into the Maldives with Israeli passports. A clear and uncompromising testament to our commitment to the Palestinian people and their inalienable right to self-determination.
At the International Court of Justice, the Maldives has filed its declaration to intervene in the case concerning the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of UN agencies in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The ‘Gaza Reconstruction Plan’ represents a clear pathway to protecting the rights of the Palestinians and restoring their dignity and hope. The Maldives stands ready to support its effective implementation and realization.
At the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution held recently, the Maldives reiterated its call for wider recognition of the Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The question of the establishment of independent and sovereign state of Palestine is beyond a matter of debate.
Palestine exists, and its legitimacy is undeniable.
Recognition of the Palestine and the pursuit of peace go hand in hand. It is the only path to lasting peace.
The Maldives therefore urges OIC Member States to intensify our joint efforts to secure broader international recognition for Palestine.
The Maldives calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
We urge OIC Member States to step up our collective action to allow the immediate and unimpeded humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
As one Ummah, it is our shared responsibility to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Our faith demands us to stand against injustice and support the oppressed.
History will judge us not by our words, but by the actions we took – or failed to take.
Palestine cannot wait,
Every delay deepens the wound and stains our collective conscience.
Let us step up and turn our words into concrete action,
Because Palestine deserves more than just words, it deserves justice.
I thank you.