In a significant diplomatic move, Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has ratified legislation that prohibits Israeli passport holders from entering the island nation, citing Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The Third Amendment to the Maldives Immigration Act was approved by the People’s Majlis (parliament) on April 15 and subsequently signed into law by the president.
The amendment explicitly bars individuals traveling on Israeli passports from entering Maldivian territory, marking a notable escalation in the country’s response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
In announcing the decision, the Maldivian government characterized the move as a direct response to what it described as “continuing atrocities and ongoing acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.”
Long Legislative Journey
The legislation has followed a complicated path to ratification. Originally introduced in May 2024 by opposition MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem of the Maldivian Democratic Party, the bill remained stalled in the Parliament’s Security Services Committee for nearly a year.
During committee discussions, Immigration officials had proposed significant modifications to the original bill. Rather than implementing a blanket ban on all Israeli passport holders, they had recommended restricting entry only to those specifically presenting Israeli travel documents when seeking admission to the Maldives.
“We have no mechanism to determine whether someone entering the Maldives holds dual citizenship or possesses multiple passports,” Immigration representatives stated during earlier committee sessions, highlighting practical enforcement challenges.
Attorney General Ahmed Usham had previously raised concerns about the bill’s broad scope, noting that many Palestinians also travel using Israeli-issued documents due to their circumstances.
Diplomatic Position
The Maldives, a predominantly Muslim nation of approximately 500,000 people, has historically maintained a pro-Palestinian stance in international forums. President Muizzu has repeatedly called for a sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The government reaffirmed its “resolute solidarity with the Palestinian cause” and its commitment to “advocate for accountability for violations of international law” when announcing the ratification.
The travel ban comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with several countries implementing various diplomatic and economic measures against Israel since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023.
Regional analysts note this action represents one of the most direct travel restrictions imposed by a nation not directly involved in the conflict. The move could potentially impact the Maldives’ tourism sector, which accounts for approximately 28% of the country’s GDP, though Israeli visitors represent a relatively small percentage of the country’s tourism market.
