Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed his government’s decision to prohibit Israeli passport holders from entering the country, saying proposed immigration legislation would make the ban unconditional, regardless of future developments.
Speaking at a news conference at the President’s Office on Monday, Muizzu said the proposed amendments would establish a permanent restriction on entry for Israeli passport holders, removing conditions previously linked to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
According to a statement issued by his office, earlier legislative proposals had sought to maintain the ban until Israel ended what the Maldivian government describes as genocide against Palestinians, which it says began in October 2023.
However, Muizzu said the revised legislation would prohibit Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives under any circumstances.
The president condemned Israel’s actions against Palestinians, describing them as genocide, and maintained that permitting Israeli passport holders to enter the island nation was unacceptable.
He reiterated the Maldives’ support for the Palestinian cause, saying his government had consistently advocated for Palestinian rights through international diplomatic forums and legal channels.
Muizzu explained that the proposed immigration legislation had been drafted to reflect the government’s position and ensure that the restrictions would no longer depend on developments in Gaza.
The Maldives initially introduced a ban on Israeli passport holders in April 2025, when Muizzu ratified amendments to the Immigration Act approved by parliament.
At the time, the president said the decision reflected the country’s solidarity with Palestinians and its opposition to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
While the original restrictions were linked to Israel’s actions against Palestinians, the newly proposed legislation seeks to make the prohibition unconditional.
The Maldives has long supported the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.
The proposed legislation represents a further step in the Maldivian government’s policy of restricting entry by Israeli passport holders while maintaining its diplomatic support for Palestinian statehood.