Malé, Maldives — President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has welcomed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes. The ICC’s decision marks a significant step towards ensuring accountability for violations in the State of Palestine, the President stated.

The ICC announced on Thursday that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe Netanyahu and Gallant “intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival.” The charges stem from actions during Israel’s ongoing operations in Gaza, which have drawn widespread international condemnation.

In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), President Muizzu underscored the importance of upholding international law and respecting the ICC’s rulings. “The Maldives welcomes the ICC's decisions today with regard to the situation in the State of Palestine. This is a crucial step towards ensuring accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity,” he wrote.

The President emphasized that justice for the Palestinian people is essential to achieving peace in the region and reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to supporting international efforts to address violations of human rights and international law.

The ICC’s arrest warrants are a pivotal development in global efforts to ensure accountability for actions in Gaza, with the Maldives joining other nations in advocating for justice and the protection of civilian rights.