International Desk: The entry of Israeli citizens to the Maldives has been banned. If the ban goes into effect, no more Israelis will be able to enter the Muslim-majority country. Following this decision by the Maldives, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended that citizens of Israel, as well as other countries, avoid visiting the Maldives. Israel also urged its citizens to leave the Maldives, saying it would be difficult to help them if they were in danger there.
According to Al Jazeera, a spokesperson from the office of Maldives President Mohamed Muijzu said in a statement on Sunday (June 2) that “President Mohamed Muijzu has decided to impose a ban on Israeli passports. However, there is no word on when this ban will be imposed or when it will end.” The spokesperson did not provide any information. President Muijju also announced a national fundraising campaign called ‘Maldives in Solidarity with Palestine’.
About 11,000 Israelis visited the Maldives in 2023, which is 0.6 percent of total tourists. The country’s official data also showed that the number of Israelis visiting the Maldives fell to 528 in the first four months of this year, an 88 percent drop compared to the same period last year.
The Maldivian opposition and government allies have been pressing Muijju to ban Israelis as a sign of protest against the Gaza war. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s continued attacks on Gaza since October 7 last year. In addition, the number of injured has exceeded 82 thousand.
The Maldives lifted its previous ban on Israeli tourists in the early 1990s, and in 2010, the two countries took steps to restore relations. But efforts to normalize relations failed after the 2012 ouster of then-President Mohammad Nasheed.
