Maldives banned from entering Israeli citizens
The Maldives banned from entering the country with people with Israeli passports, the president’s office said Mohammed Mizuwhich accuses Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Mizzu ratified the amendment of the Immigration Act after it was adopted on Tuesday. The amendment introduces a new provision of the law, which explicitly prohibits entry by visitors with an Israeli passport into the Maldives territory.
« Ratification reflects the firm position of the government in response to the lasting atrocities and genocidal acts performed by Israel against the Palestinian people, » the President’s office said.
According to the government’s proposal, in June last year, President Mozzu called on a ban on entry for the holders of Israeli passports, which suggested to Israeli ministry to Israeli citizens to avoid a popular tourist destination.
The Maldives are introducing, despite the fact that tourism represents the central pillar of the economy there. Last year, the sector generated as much as $ 5.6 billion in revenue, which is about 21 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
The Maldives, as a predominantly Muslim country, with a strong tradition of supporting Palestinian self -determination, reinforce their foreign policy and set themselves side by side with countries that require a stricter treatment of Israel, while also emerging warnings of some analysts that the ban can affect the relationships of the Maldives with the West, especially with the close allies of Israel, such as the US.
The allegations that Israel is performing genocide in Gaza are also increasingly louder. In December 2023, South Africa launched a procedure against Israel to carry out genocide before the International Court of Justice, and many international genocide experts and human rights organizations also claim.
