The Maldives has announced a ban on Israeli nationals entering the country, showing strong support for the Palestinian people. President Mohamed Muizzu approved the law on Tuesday, shortly after it was passed by parliament.
In a statement, his office said the decision was a response to the “ongoing atrocities and acts of genocide” committed by Israel in Gaza. The ban takes effect immediately. “The Maldives stands firmly with the Palestinian cause,” the president’s office added.
The Maldives, a popular luxury destination made up of 1,192 coral islands, is famous for its white-sand beaches and clear lagoons. Despite its popularity, only 59 Israeli tourists visited the country in February, out of more than 214,000 total international visitors.
The country had previously banned Israeli tourists in the 1990s but relaxed the restriction in 2010 when it briefly attempted to restore diplomatic ties. Opposition parties and members of the ruling coalition in the Maldives have been pressuring President Muizzu to impose the ban on Israeli tourists as a form of protest against the Gaza war.
Last year, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned its citizens to avoid traveling to the Maldives.
The Gaza conflict erupted after an attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023, which led to 1,218 deaths, mostly civilians, as reported by Israeli authorities. According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 1,613 Palestinians have been killed since March 18, when a ceasefire broke down, bringing the overall death toll since the war’s onset to 50,983.
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