The Maldives government has condemned President Donald Trump's announcement that the US will occupy Gaza.
"The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting," Trump posted on his social media last week.
Before that at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said "the US will take over the Gaza Strip."
In a statement on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said the Maldives government rejects all policies and actions that undermine the prospects for achieving peace.
"... including the continued expansion of illegal settlements, land annexation and any attempts to displace the population of the Gaza Strip," it stated.
After Trump's first comments on the issue, his officials suggested any relocation of the Palestinians would be only temporary.
Trump wrote on Truth Social, they "would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region". The US would then be part of an effort to redevelop Gaza.
His post did not make clear whether the two million residents of the Palestinian territory would be invited to return.
Secretary of State Rubio said the idea was for Palestinian to leave the territory for an "interim" period while debris was cleared and reconstruction took place.
Under international law, attempts to forcibly transfer populations from occupied territory are strictly prohibited.
The idea has drawn condemnation from the UN, human rights groups and Arab leaders.
More than 48,181 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023. Most of them are women and children.
