The government of the Maldives announced on Apr. 15 that it was banning Israeli nationals from entering the South Asian archipelago over Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.The decision came in “resolute solidarity” with the Palestinian people, the office of President Mohamed Muizzu said in a statement.
Maldives had initially made the decision to ban Israelis in June 2024.On Apr. 15, the People’s Majlis – the nation’s parliament – passed an amendment to the Maldives Immigration Act, barring the entry of Israeli passport holders.Muizzu ratified the amendment shortly after.
Muizzuhad been under pressure from government allies and opposition parties to impose the ban as a statement of criticism to the war.
“The ratification reflects the government’s firm stance in response to the continuing atrocities and ongoing acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people,” the president’s office said.
The Gaza genocide has claimed about 51,000 lives of Palestinians, mostly children and women.
The Maldives and Israel do not have full diplomatic ties.The island nation, where Islam is the state religion, had revoked a previous ban on Israeli tourists in the early 1990s and briefly attempted to restore relations in 2010.
Last year, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised its citizens to avoid travelling to the Maldives.Only 59 Israeli tourists visited the Maldives in February among 214,000 other foreign travellers.