The government of Maldives has welcomed the order issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), calling on Israel to halt all military offensive in Rafah City.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that the Maldives welcomes the ICJ order on the request for the modification and indication of further provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case “Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel)”.

In its order, ICJ called on Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah and open the Rafah crossing for unhindered delivery of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance.

Further, the court ordered Israel to ensure unimpeded access to the Gaza Strip for any commission of inquiry or fact-finding mission to investigate the allegations of genocide. 

Maldives has strongly condemned the ongoing attacks on Rafah by Israel defence forces and called on Israel to abide by international human rights and humanitarian law and the measures ordered by the ICJ. 

The island nation is also firm in its commitment to call for the establishment of a sovereign and independent State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as per the pre-1967 borders.

The Maldivian government remains unwavering in the efforts to ensure a lasting solution to the long suffering endured by the innocent civilians of Palestinian, by “any” means necessary.

Maldives continues to stand in strong solidarity with the people of Palestine in their pursuit of the inherent right to self-determination.