Several MPs on Wednesday called on the government to ban Israeli tourists and imports over war crimes committed in Gaza, Palestine.
During the debate on a resolution proposed by Villingili MP Saud Hussain from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) condemning Israeli atrocities, some MPs said the Maldives should not conduct any transactions with Israel and called for criminalization.
Kulhudhuffushi Uthuru MP Yasir Abdul Latheef from the MDP said other actions should be explored in addition to issuing statements condemning Israel. He proposed a list of options.
"Banning Israel's passport, for one thing. Stopping goods imported from Israel, for a second thing," Yasir said.
Whether barring citizens with Israeli passports from entering the Maldives and banning the import of goods from the country could be done should be immediately considered, and prohibiting any official of the Maldivian government from interacting with Israel could be done immediately, he said.
Prohibiting Maldivians from promoting Israel could also be done immediately, Yasir said.
"My proposal is, let us go to another step - introducing and enforcing these things that we want in the shape of a law," Yasir said.
Makunudhoo MP Mohamed Rae from the MDP said he believes that the Maldives should have banned Israeli tourists before the Israeli government prohibited it due to the anger among Maldivians.
He called for the Maldivian government and political parties to participate in the efforts of the Maldivian people on behalf of the people of Palestine.
