Maldives Bans Entry to Israeli Passport Holders
- Avaitors Maldives
- 4 minutes ago
- 1 min read
President Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday ratified a significant amendment to the Maldives Immigration Act, officially banning Israeli passport holders from entering the country. The decision comes amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, with the government citing the measure as a stance of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The amendment, passed unanimously in Parliament earlier the same day, prohibits entry to all individuals holding Israeli passports, with immediate effect. According to the President’s Office, the ban will remain in place “until the Israeli government ends its attacks on Palestinians.”
In a statement, the President’s Office reaffirmed the Maldives’ support for Palestine, saying:
“The government of Maldives reaffirms its resolute solidarity with the Palestinian cause and its enduring commitment to the promotion and protection of the rights of the Palestinian people. The Maldives continues to advocate for accountability for violations of international law and remains vocal across various international platforms in its condemnation of Israel’s actions.”
The initial proposal sought to ban both Israeli citizens and dual nationals. However, the Parliament’s Security Services Committee later revised the bill, citing a lack of technical means to verify dual citizenship.
Following consultation with the Department of Immigration, the bill was amended to limit the ban strictly to holders of Israeli passports. The revised bill was approved by Parliament with 83 votes in favor and none against.
This marks the Maldives’ most direct legislative response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years. The government has not specified a timeline for lifting the ban, noting only that it will remain “until the current hostilities affecting Palestinian populations are resolved.”