In “resolute solidarity” with the Palestinian people over the war in Gaza, the Maldives has banned Israelis from entering the luxury tourist archipelago.
President Mohamed Muizzu ratified the legislation shortly after it was approved by parliament on Tuesday.
According to his office, “the ratification reflects the government’s firm stance in response to the ongoing acts of genocide and atrocities committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.”
“The Maldives reiterates its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.”
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The ban will begin with immediate effect, a spokesman for Mr Muizzu’s office said.
The Maldives, a small Islamic republic of 1,192 strategically located coral islets, is known for its secluded white sandy beaches and shallow turquoise lagoons.
Official data shows that 59 Israeli tourists visited the archipelago in February, among 214,000 other foreign arrivals.
The Maldives lifted a previous ban on Israeli tourists in the early 1990s and briefly moved to restore relations in 2010.
Opposition parties and government allies in the Maldives had been pressuring Mr Muizzu to ban Israelis as a statement of opposition to the Gaza war.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged its citizens last year to avoid travelling to the Maldives.
