In a pivotal moment, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives has welcomed the recent ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) calling on Israel to cease genocidal acts in the Gaza Strip.

The ICJ's decision, which comes after  South Africa filed an 84-page legal case at the ICJ accusing Israel of violating the 1984 Genocide Convention during its near-four-month bombardment of Gaza on December 29 

In a statement shared on Social Media Platform X, President Muizzu expressed the Maldives' endorsement of the ICJ's order for preliminary measures.

The statement emphasizes the Maldives' call for a ceasefire and urges Israel to halt its genocidal actions against the Palestinian population.

"The Maldives welcomes the order of preliminary measures by ICJ calling on Israel to prevent and punish direct incitement of genocide in the Gaza Strip. Maldives believes that Israel needs to stop the killing in Gaza and implement an immediate ceasefire. Every human life has value, which needs to be protected. Bombings, displacement, and apartheid will not bring peace," stated President Muizzu.

He further asserted that true and lasting peace can only be achieved through the establishment of an independent Palestinian State based on pre-1967 borders.

The ICJ's ruling outlines specific measures for Israel to undertake, including the prevention of genocidal acts against Palestinians, ensuring the Israeli army avoids committing any genocidal acts, and punishing public incitement to commit genocide.

Additionally, Israel is mandated to guarantee the provision of urgent services and humanitarian aid to Gaza, preserve evidence related to allegations of genocide, and submit a compliance report to the court within one month.

It is crucial to note that while the ICJ's decision addresses various aspects of the conflict, it does not explicitly order a permanent ceasefire.

The backdrop of the ruling is the alarming situation in Gaza, where, according to reports, approximately 26,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, and over 60,000 have been wounded since October 7.

Among the casualties, a majority are women and children.