Maldives prohibits Israeli passport holders due to the conflict in Gaza
The Maldives has decided to ban Israelis from entering the Indian Ocean archipelago country, known for its luxury resorts, as public anger mounts in the Muslim-majority country over the war in Gaza.
In detail, the Office of the President of the Maldives said on Sunday that the Council of Ministers decided to change the laws to prevent holders of Israeli passports from entering the country and to establish a subcommittee to supervise the process.
According to the report, he stated that President Mohamed Mwizo would appoint a special envoy to assess Palestinian needs and launch a fundraising campaign. Nearly 11,000 Israelis visited the Maldives last year, representing 0.6 percent of tourist arrivals.
Last December, Israel issued a warning to its citizens against travelling to the Maldives, noting the increase in anti-Israel sentiment during the war in the Gaza Strip. The warning came “due to the anti-Israel atmosphere, including comments by officials.”
Israel does not maintain diplomatic relations with the Maldives, but it allows its citizens to visit the country, which is famous for its picturesque islands.
The Maldives had previously lifted a ban on Israeli tourists in the early 1990s and moved to restore relations in 2010, but attempts at normalisation were thwarted after the ouster of President Mohamed Nasheed in February 2012. Opposition parties and government allies in the Maldives are putting pressure on Moizu to ban the entry of Israelis as a sign of protest against the Gaza war.
On the other hand, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended that Israeli citizens not travel to the Maldives after its government banned entry to those holding Israeli passports.
The ministry said that the recommendation includes Israelis with dual citizenship. In a statement, she added, “For Israeli citizens already in the country, it is recommended to consider leaving because if they find themselves in distress for any reason, it will be difficult for us to assist.”
The Israeli war on Gaza left more than 118,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and about 10,000 missing amid massive destruction and famine that claimed the lives of children and older people.
Israel continues this war, ignoring a Security Council resolution demanding that it stop the fighting immediately and orders from the International Court of Justice demanding that it stop its attack on the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, and take immediate measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
