Pres Muizzu meets Palestinian counterpart; urges global support for ceasefire

Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu urged global support for a ceasefire in Gaza on Monday, as he met with Palestinian President Dr. Mahmoud Abbas.

The meeting took place in New York, United States, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

During the meeting, President Abbas called for global support and collaboration to address the plight of the Palestinian people.

"We are asking for a ceasefire because we are also human," he said.

President Muizzu reaffirmed the Maldives' unwavering support for Palestine in every possible way.

He expressed hope that the Palestinian people would receive all their rightful entitlements and pledged the Maldives' continued efforts to secure international recognition of Palestine as an independent nation.

President Abbas expressed his gratitude for the Maldives' long-standing support.

"We are always aware of the Maldives' support for the Palestinian people, and we deeply appreciate your unwavering solidarity,” he said.

The leaders also discussed areas of cooperation between the two nations.

The meeting concluded with both presidents reaffirming their commitment to working together on matters of mutual interest and further strengthening diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Palestine.

Israel’s current war on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 41,000 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.

In June, Maldives held a nationwide telethon during which it raised over MVR 19 million to support Palestinians. The funds were transferred to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in August.

The country also pledged to increase its annual donation to Palestine from USD 5,000 to USD 50,000.