Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has called for the international community to help the people of Palestine before they are eradicated in the world's largest prison, hours before Israel agreed to a cease-fire in Gaza after 11 days of bombings over 200 casualties.
Foreign Minister Shahid made the remarks at a joint debate during the United Nations General Assembly formal plenary meeting in New York on Thursday, hours before Israel agreed to a cease-fire along the devastated Gaza Strip.
During his speech, Foreign Minister Shahid stated that every citizen of Maldives was very concerned with the state of Palestine at this time, noting that, while the Assembly has been discussing the question of Palestine and passing resolutions for seven decades, Palestinians are now waking up to the sound of bombs. FM Shahid stressed that innocent people, including children, are dying, and buildings are crumbling under rocket fire, even during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, usually, a time for celebration, family and kindness. He stated that while the COVID-19 pandemic may have normalized the term “isolation” globally, for almost 15 years, over 2 million people in Gaza have been forcibly isolated from the rest of the world.
Describing the Gaza Strip, where Palestinians are confined under Israeli occupation with little contact with the outside world, FM Shahid stated that at just 41 kilometres long and 12 kilometres wide, it remains the world’s largest open-air prison. There is no safe place in Gaza, he said, adding that the United Nations commitment to “every right, for every child” must also include Palestinian children. Also stressing that Palestinian people depend on UNRWA’s support, for shelter, food, education and health care, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid called for unhindered humanitarian access to the people of Gaza. Highlighting efforts for the future, he stated that an "internationally accepted solution" is the only viable and long-term plan to ensure lasting peace in Occupied Palestinian territories, and joined other world leaders in an unquestionable call for a cease-fire in the region.
Qatar and Egypt were critical in brokering the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, after swathes of Gaza had been leveled in Israeli rocket attacks over the past week that had left the international community raging against Israeli occupation and brutality in Palestine. Hamas officials have since confirmed the cease-fire, stating that the Palestinian resistance will commit itself to this deal as long as the occupation is committed.
The latest escalation of violence in Gaza by Israeli forces took place on 10 May, during the final days of the holy month of Ramazan, with the Palestinian resistance retaliating with rocket fire into Israeli territory. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 230 Palestinians have been killed, including 65 children and 39 women.
