Maldives officially bans Israeli entry into the country

The Maldives has officially prohibited Israelis from entering the republic in protest against Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, the Middle East Eye reported on April 15th.

President Mohamed Muizzu, signed the legislation on April 14th after the parliament passed it. The ban, which takes immediate effect, expresses what Muizzu’s office calls “resolute solidarity” with the Palestinian people.

The government was pushing for the ban in June 2024, due to Israel’s attacks on Palestine. Lawmaker, Meekail Ahmed Naseem of the opposition, which is the Maldivian Democratic Party, presented a bill in May last year which intends to alter the Immigration Act of the country. The cabinet then backed this idea of change. Following multiple amendments, parliament passed the legislation.

“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,” Muizzu’s office said. The statement also reaffirmed the country’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.

Gaza’s health ministry reported at least 1,613 Palestinian deaths since the March 18th collapse of the ceasefire. The death toll since October 2023 has reached 50,983.

Muizzu declared his plans to pick a special envoy to assess Palestinian humanitarian needs, according to the New York Post on April 15th. He also announced that he intends to introduce a fundraising campaign named the “Maldivian in Solidarity with Palestine.”

This is not the first travel ban targeting Israelis. Middle East Eye via AFP reported on April 13th that Bangladesh has effectively banned citizens from visiting Israel.

The Maldives suspended diplomatic relations with Israel in 1974 and lifted a ban on Israeli tourists in the 1990s. It also signed cooperation agreements in 2009 with Israel, only to sever them in 2018. The Maldives Ministry of Tourism has said that in 2024, 528 Israelis visited the Maldives, which is a sharp drop from 4,644 the previous year.

In February alone, the Maldives welcomed more than 200,000 tourists, including just 59 Israelis.

Middle East Eye, AFP, New York Post