Maldives condemns Israeli ground offensive in Gaza, calls for global action again

Palestinians inspect the site of a collapsed residential building, shortly after it was hit in an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City, September 7, 2025. (Photo/Reuters)

The Government of the Maldives has issued a strong condemnation of the large-scale ground offensive launched by Israeli Occupation Forces in Gaza, labeling it a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, the Maldivian government highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis worsening due to the offensive and urged the international community to act swiftly.

The Maldives criticized Israel for targeting civilians and violating international law, emphasizing that such actions are intolerable. The government reiterated its call for urgent and unified global measures to halt the escalation and hold Israel accountable for the suffering inflicted on Gaza's innocent population.

Reaffirming its steadfast support for Palestinian rights, Maldives underscored the legitimacy of the Palestinian people's struggle for self-determination and their right to an independent state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The statement reflects the Maldives' consistent stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, aligning with its broader advocacy for peace and justice in the region.

The Foreign Ministry's statement on Thursday comes after the Israeli military launched a large-scale ground offensive specifically targeting Gaza City, the largest urban area in the Gaza Strip.

Launched on September 16 as part of "Operation Gideon's Chariots II," the operation involves armored divisions advancing into neighborhoods like Rimal, Sabra, Zeitoun, and Tuffah. Israeli forces have issued evacuation orders, displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians southward toward Deir al-Balah, amid reports of intense bombardment and razing of buildings.

Primary data from the Gaza Health Ministry reports 65,062 Palestinian deaths as of September 17, with over 165,000 injured.

By Azhaar Abdul Azeez

Writer