Maldives decides to ban Israeli passport holder to protest ongoing Gaza crisis

The decision was announced by Home Minister Ali Ihusan, in an emergency press briefing at the President’s Office late Sunday afternoon, reported Sun Online International.

Ihusan said the decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting.

“The cabinet decided today to make the legal amendments necessary to ban entry into the Maldives on Israeli passports as soon as possible,” he was quoted as saying by the news portal.

According to reports, Maldives records arrival of over one million tourist arrivals each year which include 15,000 tourists from Israel.

The decision by the Maldivian government to ban Israeli passports comes after Meekail Ahmed Naseem, a lawmaker from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), submitted an amendment to Immigration Act last week, to bar the entry of Israeli citizens, reported Sun Online International.

Maldives is an Islamic Republic known for its sandy white beaches and   shallow turquoise lagoons which attract tourists from across the globe every year.

Israel began Gaza invasion after Hamas launched an attack on October 7 which left  1,200 people dead.

At least 240 people were taken as hostages by Hamas members.