Maldives bans entry to Israeli tourists in solidarity with Palestine

(Patria) - The Maldivian parliament yesterday approved a bill banning Israeli tourists from entering the country, in solidarity with the people of Gaza who are "in the grip of the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant movement Hamas".

The law was immediately proclaimed by the president of the island South Asian state, Mohamed Muizzu.

"The Maldives reaffirms its firm solidarity with the Palestinian cause. This ratification reflects the government's firm position regarding the repeated atrocities and acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people," the Maldivian Presidency announced.

The travel ban for Israeli citizens, supported by both the government and the opposition, took effect immediately, said the president's spokesperson.

The Islamic Republic of Maldives hosted about 214,000 foreign tourists in February, of which only 59 were Israelis.

A previous ban on Israeli tourists was lifted in the early 1990s, and authorities briefly restored relations with Israel in 2010.

Last year, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised its citizens to avoid traveling to the Maldives.