The Maldives, a small Pacific island nation, has delayed its ban on allowing Israeli citizens to enter the country. Maldives Attorney General Ahmed Usham announced the delay because, as he explained, many holders of Israeli passports are actually Palestinians.
Usham, in a recent press conference reported by MV Republic, acknowledged the need for further review regarding a full ban on Israeli passport holders entering the country. He stressed that the government’s position hasn’t changed, but there are important considerations that need to be addressed before implementing such a ban.
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“The biggest concern is that there are many Palestinians with Israeli passports, millions of them. What happens when we impose a blanket ban? These are matters that need careful consideration,” Usham said.
“We believe the best approach is to take the existing bill and amend it during committee discussions,” he added. “Therefore, the government will not present an additional bill.”
Just two weeks ago Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu announced that he planned to prohibit the entrance of Israelis to his country over the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza. The move came as European countries like Spain and Norway extended full recognition of an independent Palestinian state.
At that time, the Maldives Foreign Ministry released a statement saying, “In light of the Maldivian government’s decision to ban the entry of citizens holding Israeli passports, the Foreign Ministry recommends that Israeli citizens avoid all travel to the Maldives. This recommendation also applies to Israeli citizens holding a foreign passport, in addition to an Israeli passport. For Israeli citizens currently in the country, it is recommended to consider leaving, as in the event of distress for any reason, we will find it difficult to assist.”
A chain of 26 atolls stretching across the equator, the Republic of Maldives, also known as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean. It’s famous for its beautiful beaches, coral reefs and luxurious resorts. It is the smallest country in Asia by land area. The capital is Malé.
