The Maldivian delegation walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address, joining numerous other delegations in leaving the chamber.

The Maldives has taken the same action for the third consecutive year.

This year’s Maldivian delegation at the General Assembly is led by Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef. International media reported a large-scale walkout as Netanyahu approached the podium for his address.

Following the walkout, Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam said the Maldives maintains that all countries should be subject to international law on an equal basis.

She said the Maldives would not participate in an environment where such principles are disregarded and opposed the normalization of actions that it considers inconsistent with international law.

Minister Iruthisham also reaffirmed the Maldives’ support for Palestine and its position that an independent Palestinian state should be established based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Maldives also supports full UN membership for Palestine.

The Maldives has repeatedly raised the Palestinian issue at international forums and called for accountability over alleged violations of international law in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Israel rejects allegations that it has committed genocide and war crimes.

The government has also continued to advocate for Palestinian statehood and greater international action on the issue.

The Maldives’ foreign policy position has included maintaining diplomatic relations with countries while excluding Israel, and the government has amended immigration laws to restrict Israeli passport holders from entering the country.

The Palestinian issue has remained a recurring subject in the Maldives’ participation in international organizations and diplomatic forums, with Maldivian officials continuing to call for the rights of Palestinians and a political resolution to the conflict.

The walkout came during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, where the conflict in the Middle East has been among the major issues discussed by world leaders.