Maldives has called for the opening of a corridor to provide food and other humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Khaleel, spoke during a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Executive Committee Wednesday.
He condemned the ongoing Israeli military aggression against the civilians in Gaza and called for support to ensure humanitarian corridors to ensure the delivery of medicine, food supplies and other basic necessities to Gaza.
He further called for the complete withdrawal of Palestinian lands occupied by Israel echoing that it is a violation of international law and in contravention of UN Security Council and OIC resolutions.
He also noted that the establishment of a sovereign and independent State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital is the only pathway towards regional peace and stability.
The OIC meeting to discuss the ongoing Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian people was held at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The OIC, comprising of 57 member states, has constantly advocated for the rights of the Palestinian people. The Maldives has been an active member of OIC since 1976.
The death toll in Gaza is now over 3000.
Meanwhile, the United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have called for humanitarian pauses in the conflict.
The vote on the Brazilian-drafted text was twice delayed in the last couple of days as the United States tries to broker aid access to Gaza. Twelve members voted in favor of the draft text on Wednesday, while Russia and Britain abstained.
Washington traditionally shields its ally Israel from any Security Council action.
"We have just been witnesses once again of hypocrisy and the double standards of our American colleagues," said Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia.
A Russian-drafted resolution, co-sponsored by the Maldives, that called for a humanitarian ceasefire failed to pass on Monday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to allow for the release of hostages and humanitarian aid access to Gaza.
Russia said it had now asked for the 193-member UN General Assembly to be convened for an emergency special session on the conflict.
It could decide to put a draft resolution to a vote there, where no countries hold a veto power. General Assembly resolutions are non-binding but carry political weight.
