The government has condemned calls by an Israeli minister for the construction of a synagogue inside the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the Maldives government "denounces in the strongest terms the recent statement" by the Israeli minister.
"The Al-Aqsa Mosque holds immense spiritual and historical significance for over 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. It is not only a revered place of worship, but also a symbol of Islamic heritage," the press release from the ministry stated.
"The Government of Maldives calls on the Government of Israel to respect the historical and legal status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions."
The ministry added that provocative statements made by senior officials of the Israeli government undermine the efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and have the potential to fuel religious conflict and cause further instability in the Middle East region.
"The Maldives calls on the international community to urgently intervene to prevent any action that could change the legal status in Jerusalem and its holy sites and take all necessary measures to protect the rights of the Palestinian people," the press release concluded.
