Maldives Applauds New Recognitions of Palestine, Urges Others to Follow

In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Maldives' Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised the recent announcements by Norway, Spain, and Ireland, which will officially recognize Palestine on May 28. Additionally, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Barbados have also declared their recognition.

"Maldives calls on those nations that have not done so, to adhere to the stance to support the Palestinian people in their quest to establish an independent and sovereign state," the post reads.

The ongoing conflict in Palestine, which escalated after October 7, 2023, has significantly influenced these decisions. The violence has resulted in over 35,000 Palestinian deaths and around 80,000 injuries, prompting several European countries to reconsider their positions on Palestinian statehood.

Slovenia is set to recognize Palestine by June 13, while Germany and France remain firm in their decisions not to do so. Germany maintains that a political solution between Palestine and Israel is necessary, and France argues that recognizing Palestine would not contribute positively at this time.

Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign affairs chief, has suggested that the 27-member bloc should seek a unified stance following the recognitions by Spain, Ireland, and Norway.

Currently, 137 of the 193 UN member states have accepted Palestinian statehood. The call for recognition comes in the wake of increased violence and alleged war crimes committed by Israeli forces, leading South Africa to initiate legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The ICJ has issued a temporary order for Israel to refrain from acts that could violate the Genocide Convention, but compliance remains to be seen.