Amidst escalating tensions over the conflict in Gaza, the Maldives government has announced a ban on Israeli passport holders from entering the Indian Ocean archipelago. President Mohamed Muizzu's office confirmed the decision, stating that the ban will be implemented soon, although specific details were not disclosed.

President Muizzu also unveiled a national fundraising initiative named "Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine" in response to public outcry against the Gaza war. Last year, approximately 11,000 Israelis visited the Maldives, constituting 0.6 percent of total tourist arrivals. However, official figures reveal a significant decline in Israeli visitors, with only 528 recorded in the first four months of this year, marking an 88 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.

Pressure from opposition parties and government allies has been mounting on President Muizzu to impose the ban as a symbolic gesture of protest against the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where casualties continue to rise.

The Maldives had previously lifted a ban on Israeli tourists in the early 1990s and attempted to normalize relations in 2010, but these efforts were derailed following political unrest in 2012.

In response to the ban, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman advised Israeli citizens currently in the Maldives to consider leaving, citing potential difficulties in providing assistance in case of emergencies.

Israelis holding passports have faced entry restrictions in several other countries including Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen.

The State of Israel responded to these entry bans in a post on X in March, stating, "We're good," acknowledging the existing restrictions which predate the current Gaza conflict.

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