The Maldives has decided to ban individuals holding Israeli passports, as announced by President Mohamed Muizzu’s office, according to the Hindustan Times.
The announcement did not specify when the new law would be implemented. Additionally, President Muizzu initiated a national fundraising campaign named “Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine.”
This decision comes amid growing pressure from both the opposition and the government’s allies to prohibit Israelis from entering the Maldives in protest of the ongoing war in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, according to the Hindustan Times.
The Maldives had previously lifted a ban on Israeli citizens in the early 1990s and reestablished diplomatic relations in 2010. However, AFP reported that efforts to normalize relations ceased after the ousting of former president Mohamed Nasheed in 2012.
In response, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised its citizens against traveling to the Maldives and recommended that those currently in the country consider leaving.
“For Israeli citizens staying in the country, it is recommended to consider leaving, since if they fall into distress for any reason, it will be difficult for us to help,” the ministry said, according to AFP.
The Gaza conflict has resulted in at least 36,439 deaths, primarily civilians, due to actions by the Israeli Defence Forces. Tourism, a key sector of the Maldivian economy, has experienced a significant decline in Israeli visitors, with an 88 percent drop in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year.
