Maldives vice president tells UN Israel’s genocide in Gaza ‘must end’

Maldives Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef told the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday that Israel’s genocide “must end,” calling for an end to Israel’s occupation and settlements and for humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians safely and rapidly, Anadolu reports.

He called for accountability under international law, saying no state should be shielded by its power or political alliances.

“Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine and other Arab lands must end. Illegal settlements must end. Humanitarian assistance must reach Palestinians safely, rapidly and at scale. And the decisions of international courts and the resolutions of this Organization must be respected and implemented,” Latheef said.

He reiterated the Maldives’ support for an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and called for Palestine to become a full UN member.

Latheef also condemned the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan, while praising the diplomatic efforts of Oman, Pakistan and Qatar to de-escalate the crisis.

On climate action, he said finance “must reach those who need it,” urging COP31 in Antalya to be a “COP of delivery.”

For Small Island Developing States like the Maldives, “none is more consequential than climate change,” Latheef said.

He also called for both the permanent and non-permanent categories of the UN Security Council to be expanded.