New Delhi:Maldives Tuesday officials banned Israeli nationals from entering the country after President Mohamed Muizzu ratified a legislation passed by Parliament in what it said was a “resolute solidarity” with the Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza strip. This comes a day after Bangladesh barred its citizens from travelling to Israel.
In a statement, the president’s office said the ratification reflects the government’s strong position against “the ongoing atrocities and acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people”.The ban will remain in effect till Israel halts its military operations against Gaza, the government said.
Although Maldives has had no diplomatic ties with Israel since the 1970s, travel was previously permitted.
The latest conflict in the Gaza Strip began as Israeli retaliation to a multifront attack by Hamas on 7 October 2023, which killed over 1,000 people in Israel. Since then, Israeli military action has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians and is increasingly drawing global condemnation.
The decision, passed by the People’s Majlis Monday, came after months of deliberation and protests in Maldives. The government expressed its firm stance against the ongoing violence, framing the new immigration policy as part of its broader advocacy for Palestinian rights.
The legislative process began in early June 2024, when Muizzu’s cabinet decided to pursue changes to the country’s immigration policy after a bill submitted by opposition parliamentarian Meekail Ahmed Naseem sought a blanket ban on all travelers holding Israeli passports, including those with dual citizenship.
While Israel has yet to react to the latest development, in June last year, its foreign ministry advised citizens—including dual passport holders—to avoid traveling to the Maldives. It also urged Israelis in the archipelago nation to consider leaving, warning them that it may be difficult to assist them in case of danger, the Times of Israel reported.
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What the bill said
Naseem’s bill was designed to amend Article 8 of the Maldives’ Immigration Act, which outlines the categories of individuals prohibited from entering the country.
The bill quickly gained support from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), which holds a supermajority in the People’s Majlis. Despite initial setbacks in the legislative process, the bill was eventually sent to the Parliament’s Security Services Committee, where it was met with further amendments.
The committee proposed a key amendment Monday—banning entry for Israeli passport holders only until Israel halts its“actions” against Palestinians. The amendment also excluded the provision that would have barred dual citizens.
PNC deputy leaders Mohamed Shahid and Mohamed Ismail led the proposal, which received unanimous support from committee members, according to a local report.
Though it passed the committee stage, its implementation was widely debated.The immigration ministry had then raised concerns about the practicality of enforcing a blanket ban, especially regarding individuals with dual nationality.
Immigration authorities also argued that the existing law, which relies on passport verification for entry, would not adequately address dual citizenship issues.
To address these concerns, the committee had decided to consult with Attorney General Ahmed Usham before proceeding further. Usham had previously warned that such a comprehensive ban could lead to complications, particularly in determining the nationality of individuals holding dual citizenship.
However, despite these concerns, the mounting public pressure, especially from opposition groups and civil society, kept the legislative process moving forward. Parliamentarians from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) also submitted numerous emergency motions, urging a quicker resolution.
The Parliament’s Security Services Committee Monday finally decided to suspend entry for Israeli passport holders until Israel halts its “actions” in Gaza.
Last year, around 11,000 Israelis visited the Maldives, making up 0.6 percent of total tourist arrivals, according to news reports. Israel had issued a travel warning in December due to rising anti-Israel sentiment amid the war with Hamas.
In his remarks following the ratification of the amendment, Muizzu reaffirmed the country’s support for an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The move comes a day after Bangladesh reintroduced an exception in passports removed by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2021. The passports will now say, “This passport is valid in all countries except Israel.”
A host of countries across the world, including Pakistan, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, either bar Israeli passport holders or do not permit their citizens to travel to Israel.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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