Israel has advised Israeli tourists to leave the Maldives and urged its citizens to avoid travelling to the country after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's government decided yesterday to seek a ban of the Israeli passport through Parliament.

Citing Israel's Foreign Ministry, the Times of Israel reported that Israelis currently in the Maldives were advised to leave "because if they find themselves in distress for any reason, it will be difficult for us to assist.”

About 10,966 Israeli tourists visited the Maldives in 2023, representing 0.58 percent of total tourist arrivals. More than 500 tourists from the country visited the Maldives in the first four months of this year.

After the Maldives decided to ban the Israeli passport, Israel also urged citizens with passports of other countries to not visit the Maldives.

The cabinet decided yesterday to bring the necessary amendments to laws in order to prohibit entry to the Maldives with an Israeli passport. The cabinet formed a committee to carry out the process.

A resolution calling for a ban on the Israeli passport had been passed by the 19th Parliament and Galolhu Dhekunu MP Mickail Naseem submitted a bill to the newly sworn-in 20th Parliament to amend the immigration law for banning the Israeli passport.

The ruling party, which has a supermajority, has not said whether it supports the bill.

More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the genocide launched by Israel on October 7, 2023. Most of the dead were women and children. Maldivians have been calling for a ban of the Israeli passport over the genocide.

Countries that have banned the Israeli passport include Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen.

Israel tourist arrivals to the Maldives

• 2004 - 747 tourists
• 2005 - 567 tourists
• 2006 - 846 tourists
• 2007 - 1308 tourists
• 2008 - 1588 tourists
• 2009 - 1380 tourists
• 2010 - 2113 tourists
• 2011 - 2433 tourists
• 2012 - 2569 tourists
• 2013 - 3253 tourists
• 2014 - 3299 tourists
• 2015 - 3567 tourists
• 2016 - 5072 tourists
• 2017 - 5949 tourists
• 2018 - 7748 tourists
• 2019 - 10424 tourists
• 2020 - 1782 tourists
• 2021 - 10785 tourists
• 2022 - 15748 tourists
• 2023 - 10966 tourists