In a move spurred by a Cabinet recommendation, Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has opted to enforce a prohibition on Israeli passport holders amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Announcing the decision was Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihsaan, during a press conference convened at the President’s Office on the sunny afternoon of June 2nd, as per an official statement released by the Maldives presidential office.
The decision of the Cabinet, as per insider information, encompasses the revision of pertinent laws to block entry for Israeli passport holders into Maldives, coupled with the formation of a specialized cabinet subcommittee tasked with supervising these measures.
Furthermore, concerning the Palestine-Israel situation, the President has resolved to appoint a dedicated envoy to evaluate the needs of Palestine.
Expanding on his initiatives, the President has also initiated a fundraising drive to aid “our brothers and sisters in Palestine” in collaboration with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. A nationwide rally under the banner “Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin,” meaning “Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine,” is set to underscore this support.
This decision marks a reversal from the Maldives’ earlier stance, having lifted a ban on Israeli tourists in the early 1990s and commenced efforts to restore relations in 2010.
Recent events have seen the Maldivian President fiercely condemn the Israeli forces’ assault on the tent camp in Rafah. In a statement posted on X, Muizzu asserted, “Strongly condemn the deadly attack by Israeli forces on the tent camp in Rafah, where displaced Palestinians were taking shelter. Israel must abide by the ICJ rulings. No country is exempt from international law. Together with the Government and people of Maldives, I call for an immediate ceasefire, an end to violence and unhindered humanitarian access.”
Additionally, the President lauded the decision of the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA77) to accord Palestine’s participation in the Assembly equal footing with its participation in the United Nations, as highlighted in another post on X. Expressing unwavering support, the President reiterated the Maldives’ backing for “all efforts to realize Palestine’s full statehood.” A press release further emphasized the Maldives’ role as one of the 101 countries supporting the resolution at the World Health Organization (WHO), portraying it as a testament to the growing global solidarity for Palestine’s statehood aspirations.
