Maldives Bans Israeli Passport Holders Amid Accusations of “Genocide” in Gaza

By: Fern Sidman

In a stark escalation of diplomatic hostility, the Republic of Maldives has officially amended its immigration policy to bar Israeli passport holders from entering the country, citing Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas as the justification. According to a statement issued Tuesday by the office of Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and reported by The Jerusalem Post, the decision is intended as a condemnation of what the Maldivian government describes as “continuing atrocities and ongoing acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.”

The Maldives government has framed this move as both a legal and moral stance, underscoring its support for the Palestinian cause and its opposition to Israeli military operations in Gaza following the Hamas-led massacre of October 7, 2023. The Jerusalem Post reported that In its statement, the president’s office affirmed its “resolute solidarity with the Palestinian cause and its enduring commitment to the promotion and protection of the rights of the Palestinian people.” The government also reiterated its long-standing position calling for the creation of a Palestinian state, based on the 1949 armistice lines, with east Jerusalem as its capital.

As detailed in The Jerusalem Post report, this amendment to the Maldives Immigration Act—ratified by President Muizzu—marks a formalization of earlier plans to bar Israelis. Homeland Security and Technology Minister Ali Ihsaan had initially announced the government’s intentions in June, noting the formation of a cabinet subcommittee to implement the legal mechanisms required for the ban.

Though diplomatic ties between the Maldives and Israel have been minimal for decades, this latest move cements a pattern of intensifying animosity. Tensions escalated sharply after the events of October 7, when Hamas terrorists carried out one of the deadliest attacks on Israeli civilians in decades. Despite the massacre, the Maldives government has doubled down on its anti-Israel rhetoric.

President Muizzu has made no effort to conceal his administration’s priorities. The report in The Jerusalem Post indicated that in his February 2025 Presidential Address marking the opening session of the Maldivian parliament, he placed the Palestinian cause at the center of the country’s foreign policy agenda.

In October 2024, Muizzu announced that the Maldives would formally intervene in the legal proceedings initiated by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza, as was reported by The Jerusalem Post. Although that case remains ongoing, Maldives’ declaration of intervention signals its intent to play a vocal role in international efforts to isolate Israel on the world stage.

The Maldives’ foreign policy posture is heavily influenced by its Islamic identity. As The Jerusalem Post report noted, former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who also endorsed the Palestinian cause during his tenure, explicitly stated in October 2023 that support for Palestinians was not just political but spiritual—rooted in what he called “the sacred responsibility of the entire Islamic Ummah to collectively work towards alleviating the suffering of oppressed Muslims globally.”

This religious underpinning is further reflected in the country’s internal policies. According to the Maldives Foreign Ministry immigration website, citizenship in the Maldives can only be held by Muslims—highlighting the deeply entrenched religious identity that shapes both domestic and foreign policy.

As of the time of reporting, Israeli authorities have not issued an official response to the Maldivian travel ban. However, The Jerusalem Post report said that diplomatic experts suggest that the ban, while symbolic in nature, could contribute to broader efforts by Muslim-majority countries to marginalize Israel in international institutions.

While Israeli tourists make up a relatively small portion of the Maldives’ tourism economy—most of which is driven by visitors from China, India, Europe, and Russia—the move nevertheless adds to a growing list of nations aligning themselves against Israel diplomatically, particularly in the wake of the war in Gaza.

The Maldives’ sweeping ban on Israeli passport holders is a potent illustration of how the geopolitical fallout from the Israel-Hamas conflict is reverberating far beyond the Middle East. By legally barring Israeli citizens from entering its borders, the Maldivian government is not only taking a drastic step in international protest—it is signaling its willingness to prioritize ideological solidarity with the Palestinian cause over global inclusivity and diplomacy. This development marks yet another chapter in the intensifying global polarization surrounding Israel’s military and diplomatic position in the wake of war.