Island resort imposes travel ban on Israelis
(MENAFN) In response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the Maldives announced a ban on Israeli passport holders from visiting the island nation, a popular destination for holidaymakers from Israel. The decision, made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu following a recommendation from the Cabinet, aims to show solidarity with Palestine.
The ban, as stated by the president's office, includes amending laws to prevent Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives and establishing a Cabinet subcommittee to oversee the implementation of this measure. Additionally, President Muizzu has initiated several actions to support Palestine, including appointing a special envoy to assess Palestinian needs, launching a fundraising campaign, and organizing a nationwide rally.
This decision comes amidst a significant decline in Israeli tourist arrivals to the Maldives, with numbers dropping by more than 80 percent this year compared to last year's approximately 11,000 visitors. Following the announcement, Israel's Foreign Ministry issued an advisory urging Israeli citizens to avoid traveling to the Maldives and recommending those already in the country to consider leaving due to potential difficulties in assistance should they encounter any distress.
Diplomatic relations between Israel and the Maldives have been suspended since 1974. However, Israeli tourists were permitted to visit the archipelago after a previous travel ban was lifted in the 1990s. Efforts to normalize diplomatic ties between the two countries began in 2010 but were halted in 2012 following political changes in the Maldives.
MENAFN04062024000045015687ID1108293093
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.