Maldives has banned the entry of all Israeli passport holders to the popular holiday archipelago.
The change to the current immigration law was passed by the Maldives parliament on Monday and the president, Mohamed Muizzu, ratified the amendment on Tuesday.
“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 statement from the president’s office said.
However, Maldives immigration services said that those Israeli citizens who hold a second passport from another country will be allowed to enter the country.
“The Maldives reaffirms its resolute solidarity with the Palestinian cause,” the statement read.
The cabinet had taken this decision nearly a year ago but the government did not formalise it until this week.
“The decision reflects the government’s strong position against the ongoing violence and alleged genocide by Israel in Palestine,” the statement added.
The Maldives, a small Islamic republic comprising 1,192 strategically located coral islets, is renowned for its secluded white-sand beaches, shallow turquoise lagoons, and idyllic retreats. It is a popular tourist destination for travellers from all across the world.
In February this year alone, at least 59 Israeli passport holders visited the country, according to immigration data, among 214,000 other foreign arrivals.
Israeli tourists comprised nearly 0.6 per cent of total tourist arrivals in Maldives last year — which is nearly 11,000 tourists. A total of 528 Israeli nationals visited the Maldives in the first four months of 2024 — dropping from 4,644 during the same period in 2023, according to Maldives government data.
Last year in June, Israel advised its citizens to leave Maldives after the government of the Indian Ocean archipelago announced that it would ban entry of Israeli nationals.
The Mohamed Muizzu government had at the time said that it would establish a subcommittee to oversee the process of the ban on Israeli passport holders and appoint a special envoy to assess the Palestinian needs and launch a fundraising campaign.
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— Alex Barnicoat (@AlexBarnicoat_) April 16, 2025
ISRAEL BANNED
The Maldives just banned Israeli Citizens from entering the country...
Here's my video covering it: pic.twitter.com/NLgy9qPX0N
Mr Muizzu has been under pressure from opposition parties and government allies to ban Israelis as a statement of protest against the Israeli war on Gaza.
In December 2023, Israel had warned its citizens against visiting Maldives due to “increased anti-Israel sentiment” following Israel’s offensive on Gaza. The warning came “due to the heightened anti-Israel atmosphere, including public comments by officials”.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians since 7 October 2023, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The ban on Israeli passport holders will reportedly be implemented with immediate effect.
Israel does not have diplomatic relationships with Maldives since they were suspended in 1974, however, Israeli tourists were allowed to enter the country after an earlier ban on Israeli tourists was revoked in the early 1990s.
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