President: We must show extreme generosity to Palestinians

We, Maldivians, must show extreme generosity in assisting Palestinians, says President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, as the Maldives launched a nationwide fundraising telethon campaign under the slogan “Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin,” which translates to “Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine.”

The telethon, which began at 08:00 am on Wednesday, will continue until midnight.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the Public Service Media (PSM) headquarters in Male’ to launch the telethon, President Muizzu said the world cannot close its eyes to the atrocities taking place in Palestine, by dismissing it as a conflict between two foreign countries.

It is the duty of all Muslims to assist Palestine, he said.

President Muizzu made a donation at the ceremony, and asked others to do the same.

“I ask that we do everything we can for the Palestinian people. We must show extreme generosity,” he said.

“This is not a conflict between two countries. This is a great calamity facing the Islamic Ummah.”

President Muizzu noted that many people who had previously been silent on the issue were now speaking up for Palestine.

The Islamic Ummah must draw courage from this, and take the efforts to advocate for the rights of Palestinians to the next level, he said.

President Muizzu said that the Palestine conflict has escalated to an unprecedented level, and that no one should close their eyes to the dire situation.

“Being a Muslim means that a trouble that befalls one Muslim is shared by the entire Ummah. This is what our religion teaches us. Islam teaches us that believers are like one body; when any part aches, the whole body aches,” he said.

“It is my sincere appeal to all Maldivians, no matter where you are, regardless of which political party you belong to or what ideology you follow, to come and join this telethon.”

He asked Maldivians to make it the day Palestinians receive the greatest donations.

President Dr @MMuizzu and the First Lady launch a nationwide fundraising telethon campaign under the slogan 'Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin,' which translates to 'Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine.' This initiative is led by President Dr Muizzu.

The telethon, organized by the… pic.twitter.com/9PYxkLSNuR

— The President's Office (@presidencymv) June 12, 2024

The “Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin” telethon was organized by the PSM, in partnership with local media, including SSTV, at President Muizzu’s request.

Donation boxes have been placed in 13 locations across the Maldivian capital. This includes;

• Hiyaa towers, Hulhumale’ Phase II
• Hulhumale’ Hospital
• Velana Building
• STO building
• STELCO
• Ferry terminals
• STO People’s Choice Supermart
• TVM headquarters

The donation box at TVM will close at 10:00 pm, while the rest will close earlier, at 06:00 pm.

Donations can also be sent via online bank transfers to:

MVR: 7730000655865 (PALESTINE AAI EKU DHIVEHEEN)

USD: 7730000655866 (PALESTINE AAI EKU DHIVEHEEN)

The funds raised through the telethon will be sent to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), via the Foreign Ministry.

Israel’s current war on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children. It has also reduced much of the Palestinian territory to rubble, displaced the vast majority of residents, and resulted in widespread malnutrition.