Maldives Demands End to Israeli Occupation at UN Jerusalem Conference

The Maldives has called for an immediate end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, urging the international community to uphold international law and protect Palestinian rights. The appeal was made during the 2026 Conference on the Question of Jerusalem, a joint initiative by the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) and the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Representing the Maldives, Ambassador Ahmed Sareer, the Permanent Representative to the OIC and Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, addressed the assembly under the theme "Jerusalem: The Frontline of Displacement and Annexation and the Key to Just and Lasting Peace." During his address, Ambassador Sareer highlighted the severe humanitarian plight of the Palestinian people, characterizing Israel's continued occupation and territorial attempts as direct violations of international law and rulings by the International Court of Justice. A central pillar of the Maldivian delegation's appeal was the urgent need for sustained and sufficient funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The Maldives recognized UNRWA's critical role in providing life-saving assistance to millions of displaced refugees who remain in precarious conditions. Furthermore, the Maldives emphasized that the religious and historical sanctity of Jerusalem's holy sites can only be secured through the termination of the occupation. The delegation advocated for the recognition of a sovereign and independent State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem serving as its capital. The Maldives' active participation in the conference underscores its long-standing diplomatic commitment to the Palestinian cause. This follows the nation's involvement in the 2025 conference in Senegal, reflecting a consistent strategy of advocacy within the OIC and the United Nations to ensure the realization of Palestinian self-determination. The CEIRPP, established in 1975 via UN General Assembly Resolution 3376, remains the primary international body tasked with monitoring and ensuring the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.