Maldives can file lawsuit against Israel: Maumoon Hameed

Prominent lawyer Maumoon Hameed has said Maldives can press charges against Israel in its efforts to seek justice for Palestine.

Maumoon via X said that the Maldives in its penal code have declared "universal jurisdiction over gross violations" of International Law, providing the country with the scope to take action to help Palestine against the genocide in Gaza without waiting for the international community "to show some spine."

The lawyer highlighted that Section 13 of the Maldives Penal Code sets the jurisdiction, and Section 13(4) states that "[any offense committed in gross violation of international law, regardless of the site of such offenses or domiciles of the parties involved,] and any offense over which the State is required to assume jurisdiction due to the State's adoption of an international treaty."

While Maumoon has highlighted the possibility for the Maldives to take legal action against Israel to stop its attacks on Palestine, the occupier-state's recent attacks on Gaza have claimed the lives of nearly 10,000 Palestinian civilians including 4,000 children.