Israel has raised its ongoing travel warning issued against the Maldives from Level 2, which, according to the nation’s security apparatus, is labeled as ‘Potential Threat’, to Level 3, which it calls a ‘Moderate Threat Level’.
It citied “the presence of terror sympathizers in the islands and increased hostility towards Israelis and Jews” as cause for the elevated warning.
“We recommend avoiding non-essential travel to the Maldives,” the official advisory read.
Israel also raised an ongoing travel warning against Armenia from Level 2 to Level 3 citing “the heightened terrorist threat against Israelis/Jews” in the country.
A travel advisory issued against Brazil was relaxed from Level 2 to Level 1 (no threat), save for forays into the Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay tri-border region.
The Maldives, as in a majority of countries across the globe, has held several marches protesting Israel’s war-mongering in the Middle East and, more specifically, its ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people — the International Criminal Court (ICC), on 21 November, issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed after 7 October 2023 in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Maldivian Parliament is currently deliberating on a non-partisan amendment banning Israeli citizens from entering the country. Deliberations are currently at committee stage, following which it is expected to be put to a floor vote.