The Israeli Foreign Ministry has advised Israeli citizens against travelling to the Maldives, citing growing anti-Israel sentiment in the country. This advisory comes as the Maldivian government has voiced its opposition to the Israeli occupation of Palestine and aggression towards Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The Maldivian Parliament is currenly seeking to ban Israeli travellers and goods from entering the country, with strong calls for a permanent entry ban on individuals holding Israeli passports.
Rights groups and observers say that Israel’s escalating military offensive in Gaza since 7 October, as well as decades-long aggression and its inhumane establishment of an apartheid state constitute persistent war crimes against the Palestinian people. These actions have drawn widespread condemnation from the Maldivian public and the government.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President-elect Dr Mohamed Muizzu, prominent diplomats, and Speaker Mohamed Nasheed have condemned Israel’s disproportionate aggression and called for peace in the region.
Several rallies in support of Palestine and the Palestinian people were held all over the Maldives during the past week with more planned in the coming days, and fundraising campaigns are also ongoing across the country to provide humanitarian aid to those in Gaza in dire need of essential supplies.