Israelis banned from entering the Maldives. The Government of the island republic in the Indian Ocean has decided to ban Israeli passport holders from entering the archipelago. The measure to amend the legislation was taken in solidarity with the Palestine, driven by the growing anger of the predominantly Muslim population at the offensive by the armed forces of Benjamin Netanyahu on the Strip of Gaza.
The ban on Israeli tourists
The decision was announced by Interior Minister Ali Ihusan during a press conference held in the office of the President of the Republic, Mohamed Muizzu: “The government has decided today to make the necessary legal changes to ban entry to the Maldives with Israeli passports as soon as possible,” the minister said, news portal Sun.mv reported.
To speed up the process of amending the laws regulating entry into the Maldives, the Government has established a special committee of ministers, but without communicating when the date and methods of entry into force of the ban will come into force.
The President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu
Maldivian solidarity with Palestine
Furthermore, the President of the Maldives Mohamed Muizzu announced in a statement that he will appoint a special envoy to assess the needs of the Palestinians and that a fundraiser is being planned for “assist our brothers and sisters in Palestine” with the UN agency UNRWA.
The head of state will also lead a national demonstration under the slogan “Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin”, which translates to “Maldivians in solidarity with Palestine”. “Together with the government and people of the Maldives, I call for an immediate ceasefire, an end to violence and free humanitarian access,” the Maldivian president wrote on X, following Israel’s attack on a refugee camp in Rafah, which caused at least 45 deaths among Palestinian civilians and more than 200 injuries.
The reaction of the Netanyahu government
The news of the ban on entry of Israeli tourists to the Maldives was commented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tel Aviv, which recommended fellow countrymen to avoid going to the archipelago and “for Israeli citizens who remain in the country, it is recommended to take taking into consideration theidea of leavingbecause if for any reason they find themselves in difficulty, it will be difficult for us to help.”
The island republic’s stance comes in the wake of the recognition of the State of Palestine by Norway, Ireland and Spain. A decision of a completely different weight in diplomatic relations with Israel compared to the entry ban, which infuriated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I send a clear message to Ireland and Norway: we will not let this pass in silence”, Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared in a statement, in reaction to the announcement of the two Governments, to which the Spanish one was also added.
Photo source: iStock
