In a striking political move that has quickly gone viral, the Maldives has officially banned Israeli passport holders from entering the country, signaling its strong support for Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The decision, which took effect immediately on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, was approved by the island nation’s parliament and ratified by President Mohamed Muizzu the same day.
The president’s office released a statement saying the travel ban was enacted “to demonstrate unwavering solidarity with the people of Palestine.” It further cited Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as the primary reason for the action, accusing the Israeli government of committing “atrocities and acts of genocide.” Israel has categorically rejected those accusations.
“The Maldives reaffirms its resolute support for the Palestinian cause,” the statement read.
This new restriction halts travel for Israeli citizens to one of the world’s most sought-after luxury destinations, known for its pristine beaches, turquoise lagoons, and high-end resorts. The Maldives, an Islamic nation made up of nearly 1,200 coral islands, has become a bucket-list destination for travelers seeking tropical seclusion. Despite its small size, tourism plays a massive role in its economy.
While Israelis made up only a small fraction of tourists—about 0.6% of all foreign visitors in 2024—the political symbolism of the ban is significant. Official data showed just 59 Israeli visitors arrived in February 2025 out of over 214,000 total arrivals. Still, nearly 11,000 Israelis vacationed in the Maldives throughout 2024.
The decision comes amid growing pressure from both opposition figures and members of the ruling coalition in the Maldives, many of whom have urged the government to respond more forcefully to Israel’s actions in Gaza. In response, President Muizzu’s administration has followed through with legislative changes to bar Israeli nationals and has even established a special government subcommittee to oversee the ban’s implementation.
This is not the first time the Maldives has limited ties with Israel. The country cut off diplomatic relations with Israel back in 1974, and although it briefly moved toward normalization in 2010, efforts to restore diplomatic ties were abandoned in 2014. Despite the absence of formal relations, Israeli tourists were allowed to enter the country in recent years—until now.
In anticipation of such developments, Israel’s Foreign Ministry had already issued a travel advisory in late 2023, warning its citizens against visiting the Maldives due to escalating anti-Israel sentiment. The warning was prompted by public statements made by Maldivian officials during the initial months of the war in Gaza.
The broader context behind the Maldives’ move is the war that erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly assault on Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and 251 abductions. Israel responded with an extensive military campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas’ grip on the Gaza Strip and securing the release of remaining hostages. As of April 2025, 59 hostages are still believed to be in captivity.
The Gaza-based health ministry, run by Hamas, claims over 50,000 Palestinians have died since the war began, though that figure remains unverified and does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel, for its part, says at least 20,000 of those killed were Hamas fighters and reiterates that it takes measures to minimize civilian casualties, blaming the high death toll on Hamas’ tactic of operating within densely populated civilian areas.
Beyond the Maldives, Israeli travelers have encountered growing difficulties abroad amid heightened political tensions. Several airlines have reduced or suspended service to and from Tel Aviv, and pro-Palestinian groups have called for international legal action against Israeli military personnel.
For the Maldives, the tourism ban reflects not just diplomatic positioning but a broader alignment with Muslim-majority nations expressing outrage over the war. Whether the move will have any long-term economic or political consequences remains to be seen, but for now, it serves as a high-profile statement of solidarity with Palestine at a moment of global division over the conflict.