Maldives To Ban Israeli Nationals: Israel Advises Citizens To Leave Following Entry Ban- Report

Israeli entry restrictions were implemented during a cabinet meeting in the Maldives earlier on Sunday, in response to requests from locals who pointed out Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.

Maldives’ Decision to Ban

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan was quoted in the local media as saying that the Maldivian government has decided to change the country’s laws to forbid Israeli citizens from entering.

According to Xinhua news agency, Ihusan said at a press conference on Sunday that the Cabinet had resolved earlier in the day to forbid Israeli nationals in response to pleas from the local public over the catastrophic strikes in Gaza.

He went on to explain that the government will change the law to implement the prohibition and that a special committee has been formed to expedite the process.

Israel’s advice to its citizens

The Maldivian government said on Sunday that it will be changing its rules to prevent Israeli nationals from visiting, and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended that Israeli citizens who were still there think about leaving.

As reported by the Xinhua news agency, the Ministry stated, “It will be difficult for us to assist Israelis who are currently in the Maldives if they encounter trouble.”

Additionally, it advised Israeli nationals, regardless of whether they had a second passport from another country, to avoid visiting the island nation with a majority of Muslims.

An estimated 15,000 Israeli tourists visit the Maldives out of the over a million that travel there each year.

Meanwhile, Israel’s ‘Roadmap to an Enduring Ceasefire’ is still in discussion, with the plan to release all of Israel’s captives and the dismantling of Hamas’s armed forces and political components.