ALBAWABA - The Maldives has officially banned Israeli passport holders from entering its territory in a decision to show solidarity with Palestine amid the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza, since Oct. 7, 2023.
The decision, which was hinted at right after the war on Gaza erupted, was recently approved by the parliament and President Mohamed Muizzu, marking a historic decision towards the country's political stance against the war crimes committed by Israel.
Maldives officially bans Israeli passport holders from entering the country
According to AFP, Muizzu's office said in a statement, "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 adds, "The Maldives reaffirms its resolute solidarity with the Palestinian cause."
It's worth noting that the ban will take immediate effect, according to a spokesperson who told AFP.
According to official data released by the Maldives, out of the 214,000 tourists who visited the country in February, only 59 were Israeli. While the Maldives lifted its ban on Israeli tourists back in the 1990s and was working to restore relations in 2010, Israel's recent war on Gaza destroyed any possible political ties between the two countries.
Israel's ongoing aggression on Gaza has resulted in the killing of at least 51,000 Palestinians and the injuring of more than 116,343 since Oct. 7, 2023, according to a Telegram statement posted by the health ministry in the Strip.
Moreover, more than six Gazans were recently killed by Israeli airstrikes since midnight, as reported by Al Jazeera.
