President: ICJ must act now in light of recent attacks on Rafah

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has emphasized the importance of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) acting now in light of the renewed attacks on Rafah by Israeli forces.

In a post on X on Monday regarding the scenes currently unfolding in the Gaza strip, particularly Rafah, the Maldivian president called on Israel to stop the brutal attacks on the Palestinian people at once and comply with international law.

Underscoring that ICJ needs to act now, the President affirmed Maldives’ full support for South Africa’s request for additional provisional measures in light of the recent attacks on Rafah.

He also reiterated that Maldives and its people will continue to stand firm with the people of Palestine in their struggle for self-determination and their right to an independent state based on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“We will not rest until Palestinian statehood is a reality, and our brothers and sisters in Palestine are able to live a life of dignity, peace, and prosperity,” he added. 

Israel has bombarded Gaza following the Palestinian resistance group Hamas' cross-border attack on Oct. 7 of last year, which killed approximately 1,200 people.

Almost 34,950 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed, while 78,600 others have been injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Israel stands accused of genocide at ICJ. A January interim ruling said it is "plausible" that Tel Aviv is committing genocide in Gaza and ordered Israeli forces to cease such acts and take measures to guarantee civilians in Gaza have access to humanitarian aid. 

South Africa on Friday asked the ICJ for additional emergency measures over the war, requesting to order Israel to withdraw from Rafah