Maldives rejects ‘Greater Israel’ plan envisioning expansion of settlements

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on Thursday, has strongly condemned the Israeli occupation government’s ‘‘Greater Israel’ plan, which envisions the expansion of Israeli settlements.

The Maldivian president, via a post on X on Thursday, said Maldives strongly condemns the statement made by the Israeli occupation government announcing the vision of “Greater Israel” and firmly rejects its settlement and expansionist plans.

The Maldives strongly condemns the statement made by the Israeli occupation government announcing the so-called “Vision of Greater Israel” and firmly rejects its settlement and expansionist plans. Such statements with inflammatory rhetoric violate international law and undermine…

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) August 14, 2025

He underscored that such statements with inflammatory rhetoric violate international law and undermine Palestinians' rights to self-determination.

“We call for urgent unified international action to protect the rights of the Palestinians and bring an end to their suffering in this heightening conflict,” he added.

President Muizzu reaffirmed that Maldives’ stand unwavering with Palestine and reiterated its commitment to all efforts aimed at achieving a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace.

The term "Greater Israel" [Eretz Yisrael HaShlema] has been in use since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and refers to a messianic vision of Israel’s borders promoted by Zionist extremists, encompassing parts of present-day Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.

In an interview with i24News aired on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked whether he “feels a connection” to the idea of “Greater Israel,” to which he replied: “Very much.” He further stated that he sees himself “on a historic and spiritual mission” that links “generations of Jews that dreamt of coming here and generations of Jews who will come after us.”

Netanyahu’s comments come as the war in Gaza continues unabated, alongside previous statements in which he has suggested an intention to remove Palestinians from the territory.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, nearly 61,600 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since October 2023.

Meanwhile, Israel continues to face global criticism, including an arrest warrant for Netanyahu issued by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes, and a genocide case pending before the International Court of Justice.