Maldives vice president tells UN Israel’s Gaza war must end

Maldives Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef told the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday that Israel’s actions in Gaza “must end”, calling for an end to the occupation and settlements and for humanitarian assistance to reach Palestinians safely and rapidly.

According to the statement, Latheef said no state should be protected from accountability under international law because of its power or political alliances.

“Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine and other Arab lands must end. Illegal settlements must end. Humanitarian assistance must reach Palestinians safely, rapidly and at scale,” he said. “The decisions of international courts and the resolutions of this Organization must be respected and implemented.”

Maldives reiterates support for Palestinian state

Latheef reaffirmed the Maldives’ support for an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also called for Palestine to be granted full membership in the United Nations.

The Maldivian vice president condemned the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan.

He praised the diplomatic efforts of Oman, Pakistan and Qatar to help de-escalate the crisis.

Call for climate finance and Security Council reform

Addressing climate change, Latheef said climate finance “must reach those who need it” and urged COP31 in Antalya to become a “COP of delivery”.

For Small Island Developing States such as the Maldives, “none is more consequential than climate change”, he said.

Latheef also called for an expansion of both the permanent and non-permanent categories of the UN Security Council.