4 June 2024: The Maldives government has announced a ban on Israeli passport holders entering the Indian Ocean archipelago, a decision made in solidarity with the people of Gaza who are enduring severe attacks and widespread hunger.
President Mohamed Muizzu, responding to public pressure in the predominantly Muslim nation, stated that the ban is a response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. A spokesman for the president confirmed the decision but did not specify when it would be implemented.
Additionally, Muizzu has initiated a national fundraising campaign titled “Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine.” Despite the Maldives being a popular tourist destination, the number of Israeli visitors has significantly decreased. Last year, 11,000 Israelis visited the Maldives, making up 0.6 percent of total tourist arrivals. This year, visits dropped to 528 in the first four months, an 88 percent decline from the same period last year.
The Maldives had previously lifted a ban on Israeli tourists in the early 1990s and aimed to restore relations in 2010. However, normalization efforts were disrupted following the ousting of President Mohamed Nasheed in 2012.
In light of the new ban, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman advised Israeli citizens currently in the Maldives to consider leaving, citing potential difficulties in providing assistance if needed.
This ban aligns the Maldives with other nations such as Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen, all of which also prohibit entry to Israeli passport holders.
The move underscores the Maldives’ stance on the Gaza conflict, reflecting widespread public sentiment and international geopolitical dynamics.
