At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Maldives’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abdullah Khaleel, delivered a powerful address condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza and urging urgent reform of the global multilateral system.

In his speech, Minister Khaleel denounced the ongoing violence in Gaza, noting that over 66,000 civilians mostly women and children have been killed.

He painted a grim picture of humanitarian suffering, describing people killed while begging for food, mothers holding lifeless babies, and children staring blankly at the ruins of their homes and futures.

The Foreign Minister criticized Israel for “wilfully, shamefully, and repeatedly” violating international law, ignoring Security Council resolutions, bypassing the International Court of Justice, and sanctioning the International Criminal Court.

He further highlighted the role of powerful nations whose financial and military support continues to sustain the humanitarian crisis, calling the refusal to recognize Palestinians as equal human beings “the shame of the century.”

Minister Khaleel also condemned the use of famine as a weapon of war and warned against Israel’s strikes beyond Gaza, including attacks on Qatar, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, and Iran, cautioning that such acts undermine borders whenever “power speaks louder than law.”

Global Erosion and UN Reform He warned of the erosion of the global order along three fronts: the taboo against conquest, respect for sovereignty, and multilateralism.

Minister Khaleel called on member states to use the UNGA session as a “repair moment” for multilateralism, urging Security Council reform to include greater representation, transparency, and accountability, including a rotating seat for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

He also stressed the need to correct historic imbalances at the UN, including the lack of a female Secretary-General.

Turning to global challenges, Minister Khaleel highlighted the worsening climate crisis and the need for fair, additional, and predictable climate finance for developing countries.

He noted that external debt is restricting resources for resilience, health, and education in SIDS.

He also outlined Maldives’ national agenda, Maldives 2.0, emphasizing governance reforms, digitization, inclusive economic development, youth empowerment, ocean protection, renewable energy, and health initiatives including mental health expansion and a ban on vaping devices, e-cigarettes, and tobacco for the next generation.

Concluding his speech, the Foreign Minister warned of a stark choice: either rebuild international law and norms or accept a future where “might makes right,” cautioning that small states will be the first casualties in a lawless world.

He called on the global community to uphold sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multilateralism, arguing that when the small can stand, all of us will stand taller.