Maldives Condemns Demolition of UNRWA Buildings in East Jerusalem

he Government of the Republic of Maldives has issued a strong condemnation of the demolition of buildings belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of occupied East Jerusalem.

In a statement released today, Maldivian authorities described the demolitions carried out by Israeli occupation forces as a clear violation of international law and an action that undermines the role of the United Nations and humanitarian agencies. The Government said the demolition exacerbates the already dire humanitarian situationfaced by the Palestinian people and runs contrary to rulings by the International Court of Justice.

The Maldives reaffirmed its unwavering support for UNRWA, underscoring the agency’s essential role in delivering critical assistance and protection to Palestinians. The statement also called on the international community to take concrete measures to hold Israel accountable for ongoing violations of international law.

The Maldives’ position aligns with broader regional criticism of the demolitions, following similar condemnations from nations such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan, which have also decried the destruction of UNRWA facilities as undermining humanitarian norms.