Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud,
Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Cameroon and Chair of the Council of Foreign Ministers, His Excellency Lejeune Mbella Mbella
Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, His Excellency Hissein Brahim Taha,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,
I commend the exceptional leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for bringing us together today.
We gather here once again with deep sorrow and outrage.
In January, the ceasefire gave the people of Palestine a temporary respite. A glimmer of hope that Israel’s brutal and genocidal war might stop.
But the ink on the ceasefire agreement was barely dry before Israel resumed their relentless violence.
Once again, the hopes of the Palestinian people have turned to despair.
The ongoing and escalating aggression against the Palestinian people is the gravest challenge facing our Ummah today.
The systematic attacks, blockade of Gaza, and deliberate targeting of civilians have created an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe.
The Israeli Government’s decision to halt the access of humanitarian aid into the Gaza strip is a blatant violation of the ceasefire Agreement and international humanitarian laws.
These are not isolated acts of war. They are deliberate efforts to erase the Palestinian identity and extinguish their right to exist.
Israel's gross violations of international law and its continued policies of occupation and apartheid must not go unanswered. The continued genocidal acts against the Palestinians is a stain on humanity's conscience.
This is why at the International Court of Justice; the Maldives recently 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. We are also an intervening state in South Africa’s case against Israel on the application of the Genocide Convention.
We are particularly alarmed by the growing attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their homeland. The Maldives firmly condemns any call to establish a Palestinian territory outside of Palestine. Such proposals not only violate international law but diminish the hope for a homeland for the Palestinians, as well as threaten the sovereignty of other nations.
We demand the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people and a permanent ceasefire. We fully support all parties who assisted and continue to work tirelessly to achieve a lasting ceasefire. The international community must continue to support and demand the continuation, and the true implementation of a ceasefire. As well as the rebuilding and reconstruction of Gaza.
In this context, the Maldives welcomes the adoption of the Gaza reconstruction plan adopted at the Arab League Summit just a few days ago. This is a clear plan to safeguard Palestinian rights, prevent displacement, and rebuild what has been destroyed in Gaza. We also believe that the rebuilding of Gaza under the governance of the Palestinian Authority will pave the way for a lasting and peaceful solution.
In short, Excellencies, Palestinian lands belong to Palestinians alone!
Excellencies,
The only lasting resolution can be achieved through the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
We support all ongoing efforts to this end, including the Global Alliance on the Implementation of the Two State Solution. We support all initiatives towards Palestine’s full membership in the UN and international organisations.
Statehood must come hand in hand with justice.
We urge all OIC Member States to intensify efforts, not just for restoration of the ceasefire, but also to end the occupation and achieve a just and lasting peace.
We look forward to the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine scheduled to take place in June this year that we hope will drive this message forward.
Excellencies,
Defending Palestine is not merely a political cause. It is our moral duty, a humanitarian obligation, and central to the very purpose of our organization.
We will not waver. We will not rest until justice prevails, and the Palestinian people are free to live with dignity, peace, and security on their own land.
I thank you.