President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said the Maldives’ foreign policy is based on maintaining good relations with all countries except Israel, while prioritising the interests of the Maldivian people.
The position was reiterated as the Maldivian delegation walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall on Thursday, September 24, ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address.
The delegation, led by Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef, joined representatives from several other countries who left the hall in protest as Netanyahu began speaking at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Following the walkout, Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam said all countries must abide by international law equally and that no country is above the law.
In a social media post, Iruthisham said the Maldives would not be present in an environment where such principles were disregarded and would not allow such actions to become normalised.
She reiterated the Maldives’ support for Palestine and called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. She also renewed the Maldives’ call for Palestine to be granted full membership of the United Nations.
The Maldives has repeatedly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, calling for accountability over alleged violations of international law. The government has also continued to raise the Palestinian issue at international forums.
Muizzu has previously said that the Maldives seeks to maintain good relations with all countries except Israel, while placing the interests of Maldivians at the centre of its foreign policy.
The government has also amended the country’s laws to prevent holders of Israeli passports from entering the Maldives, reflecting its stated position on Israel.
