Maldives reaffirms support for independent, sovereign Palestine

Maldives on Thursday reiterated its firm and unwavering support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine.

In a statement, the Maldivian foreign said the government will continue to call for an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and international law.

"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. The Maldives further reiterates its support for the full membership of Palestine in the United Nations," the statement read.

"Maldives calls 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."

New US President Donald Trump, a real-estate-developer-turned-politician, sparked anger around the Middle East with his unexpected announcement on Tuesday, just as Israel and Hamas were expected to begin talks in Doha on the second stage of a ceasefire deal for Gaza, intended to open the way for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, a further release of hostages and an end to a nearly 16-month-old war.

Trump said on Thursday Israel would hand over Gaza to the United States after fighting was over and the enclave's population was already resettled elsewhere, which he said meant no US troops would be needed on the ground.

A day after worldwide condemnation of Trump's announcement that he aimed to take over and develop the Gaza Strip into the "Riviera of the Middle East", Israel ordered its army to prepare to allow the "voluntary departure" of Gaza Palestinians.