The Maldives parliament has approved legislation prohibiting Israeli passport holders from entering the country, local media reported on Tuesday. President Mohamed Muizzu swiftly ratified the law following its parliamentary passage. "The ratification reflects the government's firm position in response to the ongoing atrocities and acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people," a statement from the president's office declared. A presidential spokesperson confirmed to AFP that the ban takes immediate effect.

The legislative journey began approximately ten months ago when an opposition member of parliament introduced the initial proposal, which subsequently stalled in parliamentary committees. Opposition parties intensified their push for approval in recent months, particularly after the ruling coalition rejected a proposal to expedite the process last November – a decision that triggered significant public outcry.

The finalized legal text establishes that "until the inhumane actions carried out by Israel against Palestinian citizens since October 7, 2023, come to an end, entry to the Maldives with an Israeli passport will be prohibited."

An earlier version of the legislation sought to implement a more comprehensive ban affecting all Israeli citizens regardless of dual citizenship status. However, this broader approach was abandoned following recommendations from the government's legal advisor.

IT'S OFFICIAL: the Maldives have banned all Israelis from entering the country.

In their attempt to keep Jews out, they've also banned the 20% of Israelis who are Arab. pic.twitter.com/V6qUUc6t1R

— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) April 15, 2025

 During parliamentary deliberations, representatives from the Maldivian tourism industry voiced concerns that an all-encompassing prohibition could negatively impact the vital tourism sector. These stakeholders suggested a more targeted approach, recommending that the ban be limited exclusively to Israeli political leadership.

The post Trouble in paradise: Maldives bans Israelis over Gaza war appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The government of the Maldives has announced its intention to prohibit Israelis from entering the Indian Ocean archipelago, renowned for its luxury resorts, as public anger in the predominantly Muslim nation escalates over the ongoing war in Gaza.

A statement from President Mohamed Muizzu's office revealed that the cabinet has decided to amend existing laws to prevent Israeli passport holders from gaining entry into the country. Additionally, a subcommittee will be established to oversee the implementation of this process.

In a Facebook post, the Israeli Foreign Ministry wrote, "In light of the Maldives government's decision to ban the entry of citizens with Israeli passports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that Israeli citizens avoid travel to the Maldives. The recommendation is also valid for Israeli citizens holding a foreign passport in addition to an Israeli passport. For Israeli citizens staying in the country, it is recommended to consider leaving, since if they fall into distress for any reason, it will be difficult for us to help."

Yoseph Haddad, an Israeli-Arab public figure, wrote on Instagram, "Do you understand they didn't ban entry for Palestinians after the October 7 massacre? To them if you raped, kidnapped, and massacred Israelis you are welcome to vacation there, but if your country defended itself against a terrorist organization you are not allowed entry. They didn't ban entry for citizens of Iran, North Korea, or Syria... only Israelis! This is the definition of apartheid by the way."

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A post shared by יוסף חדאד - Yoseph Haddad (@yosephhaddad)

 Last year, nearly 11,000 Israelis visited the Maldives, accounting for 0.6% of the total tourist arrivals in the island nation. However, in December, Israel issued a travel warning cautioning its citizens against visiting the Maldives, citing "heightened anti-Israel sentiment" and "public comments by officials" during the conflict with Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group.

The Republic of Maldives, a Sunni Muslim country without official diplomatic relations with Israel, recently condemned the Israeli actions in Rafah, a city in the Gaza Strip. "Such deliberate aggression and genocidal acts targeted against civilians are in gross violation of international humanitarian law," the Maldives' Foreign Ministry stated last Tuesday.

Citizens in the Maldives have staged numerous demonstrations against Israel since the outbreak of the conflict with Hamas on October 7. As early as November, a bill was introduced in parliament proposing to prohibit Israeli passport holders from entering the country. President Muizzu is expected to appoint a special envoy tasked with assessing the humanitarian needs of Palestinians and launching a fundraising campaign to support relief efforts.

The post Trouble in paradise: Foreign Ministry sounds alarm after Maldives ban appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The Maldives, a small archipelagic state in the Indian Ocean, has become a big hit among Israeli tourists in recent years.

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Although many believe the Maldives is a particularly expensive and hard-to-reach destination, Israeli travel company Caminos has announced the upcoming launch of direct flights, using Air Seychelles aircraft, from the Jewish state to the Maldives.

Until now, when traveling to the Maldives, one first had to fly through Dubai or the Republic of Seychelles, for example, as direct flights were unavailable. Now, however, Caminos has said it will operate five direct flights every Monday from September 6 until October 4. Ticket prices will start at $995.

It's important to note there will be a one-hour stop-over in Seychelles on the return flight to Israel, in which passengers will not be allowed to leave the plane.

Caminos will offer various packages including accommodations at five-star resorts in the Maldives. The packages will begin at $1,750 for one week including the flight. For a better hotel, travelers will be able to pay $2,750, including air travel.

The flight from Israel to the Maldives is around 8.5 hours long without a stop-over, and around 10 hours on the return leg (with the one-hour stop-over).

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