Maldives bans entry of Israelis over Gaza war

The Maldives announced it was banning the entry of Israelis from the luxury tourist archipelago in “resolute solidarity” with the Palestinian people.

President Mohamed Muizzu ratified the legislation shortly after it was approved by parliament 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,” his office said in a statement.

“The Maldives reaffirms its resolute solidarity with the Palestinian cause.”

The Maldives has announced an immediate ban on Israeli tourists, according to a spokesperson for President Muizzu’s office. This move comes as pressure mounts from opposition parties and government allies in the Maldives to take a stand against Israel over the ongoing Gaza conflict.

The Maldives, known for its luxury resorts and scenic beaches, had previously lifted a similar ban in the 1990s and even briefly attempted to restore diplomatic relations with Israel in 2010. However, only a small number of Israeli tourists visit the country — just 59 in February out of 214,000 total foreign visitors.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry had already advised its citizens to avoid traveling to the Maldives. This travel advisory and the newly reimposed ban are both tied to the ongoing war in Gaza, which erupted after a deadly Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 that left 1,218 people dead, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry reports over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, including 1,613 just since a ceasefire fell apart on March 18.