ISTANBUL

Maldives on Monday condemned Israeli offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah and extended full support to the case filed by South Africa against Tel Aviv at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The presidency of the island nation in a statement said Israeli attacks on Rafah have "worsened the humanitarian crisis" in the blockaded enclave, denouncing it as a violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.

Male blasted Israel's demands for evacuation of Palestinian civilians in eastern Rafah, where over 1.4 million people have taken refuge from war that began last October and has since killed more than 35,000 Palestinians. The initial Hamas attack that triggered the conflict claimed around 1,200 lives and around 250 others were taken as hostages.

Nearly 360,000 people have left Rafah since the first Israeli evacuation order last week, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

"These genocidal acts perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces under the guise of security concerns have resulted in mass displacement, acute starvation, and blockage of humanitarian aid," the presidential statement said.

Maldives also declared its intention to intervene in the case filed by South Africa against Israel at the ICJ.

"The Government of Maldives extends its full support to the urgent request made by South Africa on May 10, 2024, for the modification and indication of further provisional measures by the Court concerning the current situation in Rafah," said the statement.

Expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, Maldives reaffirmed its commitment to their inherent right to self-determination. It advocated for the establishment of an independent state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on pre-1967 borders.

An interim ICJ ruling in January said it is "plausible" that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and ordered Tel Aviv to stop such acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Last week, South Africa asked the UN court to order Israel to withdraw from Rafah as part of additional emergency measures over the war.