The government of the Maldives, a Muslim-Sunni island nation, decided to ban the entry of Israelis following the war in Gaza. The cabinet decided to change the laws so that holders of Israeli passports are prohibited from entering the island.
Nearly 11,000 Israelis visited the Maldives last year – 0.6 percent of the total tourist arrivals. President Dr. Muhammad Mu’izou accepted the decision and also appointed a special envoy to examine aid to the Palestinians following the ongoing war in Gaza, and the government announced a campaign to raise donations for Gaza and UNRWA.
Following the announcement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a recommendation to Israelis staying in the country to leave, since “if they fall into distress for any reason, we will have difficulty helping them.”
Also in October and December, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published recommendations for Israelis to avoid coming to the island nation – “in light of the worsening of the atmosphere against Israel, including in public statements by officials.”
The Maldives, known for its paradise views of white beaches and clear turquoise waters, are an island nation in the Arabian Sea in the Indian Ocean. They do not maintain diplomatic relations with the State of Israel, but until now Israelis could reach them through other countries and obtain an entry visa at the airport.
Between 1965 and 1974, full relations existed between Israel and the Maldives, until they were frozen. In 2006, the President of the Maldives, Mohammed Nasheed, announced that he intended to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, but the statement was met with opposition from opposition parties – and was shelved.
