President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has denounced the failure of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in taking decisive measures to put an end to the suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza.

The Maldivian leader said this in a message delivered on his behalf by Chargé d’affaires and Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Maldives to the United Nations, Dr Ibrahim Zuhuree at the 45th Plenary Meeting of the 10th Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly held in New York on Wednesday.

As such, the president of Maldives denounced UNSC’s failure on taking critical measures to end the suffering in Palestine, stating that the veto not only failed to demand a ceasefire, but is also enabling potential war crimes and has consecutively made millions across the globe question the value of humanity and the UN.

Stressing that the UN was formed 78 years ago in a bid to ensure the world would not witness atrocities of the second world war, the Maldivian leader in his message highlighted that the UNSC was mandated to guarantee and uphold international peace and security.

Further, the message reiterated the island nation’s urgent call for the International Criminal Court to probe possible war crimes committed by the occupying power, Israel against the people of Palestine.

Noting that the innocent civilians of Palestine have been suffering under the illegal occupation of Israel and its apartheid policies long before 7 October 2023, the message condemned the double standards in upholding human rights.

The president of Maldives urged the UNGA to increase pressure on all parties to fulfil their obligations under international law including international humanitarian law, with a particular focus on the protection of civilians.

In addition to this, President Muizzu has urged to increase pressure on the international community and the Israeli government to stop the expansion of illegal settlements and the economic isolation of Palestinians.

Held at the request of Egypt and Mauritania, the emergency session invoked the UNGA Resolution 377, “Uniting for Peace”.

President Muizzu’s message further reads that Maldives has co-sponsored the resolution, which demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages as well as the assurance of unhindered humanitarian access to all areas affected by the conflict.

Maldives has on many occasions voiced grave concern over the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including at multiple forums of the UN including the UNGA, UN Human Rights Council and UNSC.

The people and government of Maldives remain in unwavering commitment to support the people of Palestine, in their inalienable right to self-determination and for an independent and sovereign State of Palestine to be established on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.