Maldivian govt. rejects Gaza expulsion plans

The government of Maldives has rejected plans to displace the Palestinian population in Gaza.

Last week, US President Donald Trump and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a joint press conference at the White House during which Trump disclosed his plans for Gaza, which was concurred by Netanyahu.

He said the US will “take over” and “own” Gaza after resettling Palestinians elsewhere under an extraordinary redevelopment plan that he claimed could turn the enclave into ‘the Riviera of the Middle East’; a tourist destination.

The proposal received global condemnation with experts saying it would constitute ethnic cleansing.

Maldivian Foreign Ministry released a statement subsequently, reiterating Maldives’ firm and unwavering support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its Capital, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and international law.

The statement read that Maldives rejects all policies and actions that undermine the prospects for achieving peace in the region, including the continued expansion of illegal settlements, land annexation and any attempts to displace the population of the Gaza Strip. 

It further reiterated support for the full membership of Palestine in the United Nations.

As such, Maldives called on the  international community to take all necessary measures to uphold international law and to protect the rights of the Palestinian people. 

“A political solution remains the only viable path to achieving lasting peace, where two independent states can coexist in security, dignity and mutual recognition,” the statement read.

Notably, Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, in his presidential address on Thursday, emphasized that Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and not anyone else.

Delivering his annual address at the Parliament on Thursday morning, President Muizzu said the Maldives will never support any plan to displace Palestinians.

He said that the Maldives has always supported the establishment of independent and sovereign Palestinian state, and that the country has the Maldivian government’s full support for efforts on that front.

“The land of Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people. The Maldives will never support any effort to displace Palestinians. We have always advocated for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.

Trump’s announcement on Tuesday was met with met with shock and audible gasps from those in attendance. It has since been rejected by Palestinian people and leaders, Middle East powers, and the governments of Spain, France, Russia, China, and the Republic of Ireland, among others.

Neighboring countries also repeatedly rejected the prospect of large-scale transfers of Palestinians out of Gaza, which has been levelled in a 15-month-long war between Hamas and Israel. At least 47,552 people in Gaza have been killed in the fighting.

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas went into effect on January 19.

But Israel and Hamas have only agreed to the first 42-day phase of the deal, which remains ongoing. It has seen a pause in fighting and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the eventual release of 33 captives held in Gaza.

The second phase would see a more complete end to the war and the release of the remaining captives.

A third phase is meant to eventually see the reconstruction of Gaza, although no day-after plan has yet to emerge.