Maldives bans Israelis from entering the country because of Gaza war

The Maldives has announced that it will ban Israeli passport holders from entering the country as part of its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The presidential office of the Indian Ocean island nation, known for its luxurious resorts and endless white sandy beaches, announced this in a press release on Sunday.

Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu decided to impose the ban on the recommendation of the cabinet, the press release said.

The country’s laws would be changed and a cabinet subcommittee would be set up to oversee the efforts, the president’s office said.

After the ban was announced, the Israeli Foreign Ministry advised Israelis to avoid traveling to the island. “Israeli citizens who are still in the country are advised to consider leaving, because if they get into trouble for any reason, it will be difficult for us to help them.”

The President announced that he would appoint a special envoy to assess the needs of the Palestinians and that he would launch a fundraising campaign with UNRWA to “support our brothers and sisters in Palestine,” the press release said.

Muizzu will also hold a nationwide rally under the slogan “Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin,” which translates to “Maldivians in solidarity with Palestine.”

The news comes just days after the president condemned an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Rafah that killed at least 45 Palestinians and injured more than 200.

“I stand with the government and people of the Maldives to call for an immediate ceasefire, an end to violence and unhindered humanitarian access,” the president posted on X last week.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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