Maldives BANS Israelis from entering the country as anger rises over the war in Gaza in the predominantly Muslim nation

The government of the Maldives will ban Israeli citizens from its nation, as public anger in the predominantly Muslim nation rises over the war in Gaza. 

The president’s office said the Cabinet had decided to change laws to prevent Israeli passport holders from entering the country and to establish a subcommittee to oversee the process.

It said President Mohamed Muizu will appoint a special envoy to assess the Palestinian needs and to launch a fundraising campaign.

Israel’s foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said in response that the foreign ministry recommends Israelis avoid any travel to the Maldives, including those with foreign passports. 

He also recommended those currently there consider leaving.

Nearly 11,000 Israelis visited Maldives last year, 0.6% of the total tourist arrivals.

Large posters began appearing on the white sandy beaches of the south Asian nation

Public anger in the predominantly Muslim nation has risen over the war in Gaza

The government considered an enforced ban on Israelis as early as November 2023, local media reported. 

Maldives MP Mohamed Nasheed Abdullah, who first proposed the bill, said he introduced it in response to ‘indiscriminate Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.’

Protests formed across the island in the days and weeks after the October 7 attack, largely responding to Israel’s military campaign against the Gaza Strip. 

Furious Maldivians were seen marching through Malé, the capital city, just weeks after Israel began its retaliatory campaign against the enclave following Hamas’ brutal attack. 

Large posters began appearing on the white sandy beaches of the south Asian nation. 

One read: ‘Ban Israeli passports. Maldives will thrive without your blood money. Free Palestine.’ 

It also reportedly showed a QR code that linked to a site that hosted pictures and videos of injured Palestinian children. 

The war in the Middle East has raged on for nearly eight months, with both sides showing little sign of wanting to stop. 

Furious Maldivians were seen marching through Malé, the capital city, just weeks after Israel began its retaliatory campaign against the enclave following Hamas’ brutal attack

The government considered an enforced ban on Israelis as early as November 2023, local media reported

The Israeli military said this morning that it had found the body of an Israeli paramedic who until now was believed to have been held hostage in Gaza but was killed in the October 7 attack.

The body of Dolev Yehud, 35, was located in Nir Oz kibbutz, which came under attack during the bloody raid on southern Israeli communities by Hamas militants on October 7.

‘During the brutal October 7th terror attacks, Dolev left his house in an attempt to save lives,’ the military said in a statement.

‘Dolev was murdered by the Hamas terror organisation on the 7th of October, and his body was located in Kibbutz Nir Oz,’ the military said, without specifying when exactly his remains were found.

Until now Yehud was believed to be held hostage by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. His sister Arbel Yehud is held captive.

The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,190 people in Israel, mostly civilians. 

Militants also abducted some 250 people, Israelis and foreigners, 120 of whom are still held captive in Gaza, including 37 who the military says are dead.

Israel’s retaliatory bombardment and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed 36,439 people, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.