The Maldives has officially imposed a total ban on Israeli citizens entering the country, citing Israel’s military actions in Gaza as the reason for the move. The decision, announced Tuesday, was ratified by President Mohamed Muizzu following a parliamentary vote.
In a statement, President Muizzu’s office described the measure as a demonstration of the nation’s “resolute solidarity with the Palestinian people” and a response to what it called “ongoing acts of genocide” by Israel.
“The ratification reflects the government’s firm stance in response to the continuing atrocities and acts of genocide committed by Israel against Palestinians,” the statement said.
It is currently unclear whether the ban also applies to dual nationals who hold Israeli citizenship alongside another passport.
The move follows a previous travel advisory from Israel warning its citizens against visiting the Maldives due to rising anti-Israel sentiment after the October 7 Hamas attacks and the ongoing war in Gaza.
According to official data, only 59 Israeli tourists visited the Maldives in February, out of over 214,000 total foreign arrivals.
The ban takes immediate effect and applies across all 1,192 islands that make up the Maldives.
The Maldives, a Muslim-majority nation of around 530,000 people, had previously banned Israeli tourists but lifted restrictions in the 1990s. Efforts to normalize diplomatic ties resumed briefly in 2010 but stalled by 2012.
Pressure from opposition parties and ruling coalition members had been mounting on President Muizzu to take a firmer stand against Israel.
