The ruling People's National Congress (PNC) parliamentary group leader Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah has faced public anger and criticism after describing Israel's ongoing genocide against the Palestinians as a "matter between two countries."
At a press conference held by the 75-member PNC parliamentary group after the swearing-in ceremony of MPs for the 20th People's Majlis on Tuesday, journalists questioned about the policy on banning the entry of Israeli tourists.
After facing repeated questions, Falah, at first, said he was unable to comment as the Parliament did not have much information on the issue.
"On the issue of Israel, as you know, this is a matter between two major foreign countries. The government will send the best proposal [to the Parliament] and we will hopefully decide what needs to be done in the way that is most beneficial to the people and the country," he said.
Former Managing Director of State Trading Organization (STO) and Democrats activist Hussain Amr posted a video of Falah's comments and criticized the MP over his statement.
"While Israel is committing a genocide in Palestine, this is not a matter between two countries. This is a crime against all humanity," Amr wrote in a post on X.
He added that what is best for the Maldivian people is what is best for Palestinians and that the Parliament should take action without waiting for the government to announce a decision.
Many social media users who reposted Amr's post had also criticized Falah.
"How shameful to see this from the nationalist and religious government! They have downplayed this and said this has nothing to do with us!" one person wrote.
Some people slammed the PNC for portraying itself as a religious and nationalistic party while in opposition and not maintaining those values when in power.
Former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed shared a video of Falah's comments and said it seems like a festival of ignorants when looking at some of the MPs starting for the Speaker of the new Parliament.
“The fact that the Palestinian issue is implied to be as simple as a dispute over a plot of land between two groups indicates that these people are not serious about this matter,” one person said in a post to the same video.
"Even a grade 1 student can give a clearer perspective of this matter than this person. Shame on you," another person wrote.
