Maldives bans Israeli passport holders over war on Gaza
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, following a recommendation from the Cabinet, imposed a ban on Israeli passport holders from entering the island nation. The Muslim-majority country has staunchly supported Palestinian rights on international platforms.
The Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihsaan, announced the decision at a news conference held at the President’s Office this afternoon.
The Cabinet decision includes amending necessary laws to prevent Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives and establishing a Cabinet subcommittee to oversee these efforts.
The press statement announces the appointment of a “special envoy to assess Palestinian needs”, and a fundraising campaign to support the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
UNRWA has been the target of an Israeli campaign to brand it as a “terrorist organisation”, and was accused by Israel earlier this year of complicity in the October 7 Hamas-led attacks, which led to many of its Western donor nations halting funding to it.
"The President further decided to set up a fundraising campaign to assist our brothers and sisters in Palestine with the help of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and to conduct a nationwide rally under the slogan "Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin," which translates to "Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine" to show support," the readout stated.
