The Maldives officially banned Israeli passport holders from entering the country after President Mohamed Muizzu ratified an amendment to the nation's immigration law. The parliament passed the measure unanimously, citing what the government called "continuing atrocities and ongoing acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people." Israel has denied all genocide allegations.
The ban was years in the making. The Maldives first suspended diplomatic relations with Israel in 1974, and in 2014 announced a boycott of Israeli products during a previous Israeli military operation in Gaza. In 2023, more than 11,000 Israelis visited the Maldives, but arrivals dropped 88% in early 2024 as public pressure grew. Tourism accounts for roughly 21% of the country's GDP, making the move economically significant for a nation of just over 500,000 people.
Israel's Foreign Ministry responded by advising its citizens to leave the Maldives and avoid future travel there.
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