Israeli Nationals Asked to Leave Maldives Following Passport Ban

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has ordered Israeli nationals stranded in the Maldives to leave the country following the Maldives' recent ban on Israeli passports. The ban, which came into effect yesterday, was implemented in response to Israel's treatment of Palestinian civilians.

In light of the ban, Israel has issued a travel advisory urging Israelis currently in the Maldives to return immediately. The advisory emphasizes that assistance may be limited for any issues that arise while they remain in the Maldives and advises against traveling to the Maldives.

In 2023, the Maldives welcomed approximately 11,000 Israeli tourists, with 528 visiting between December 2023 and April 2024. Despite Israel being ranked 72nd in terms of the number of tourists visiting the Maldives, the government has decided to enforce the passport ban strictly due to humanitarian concerns regarding the situation in Palestine.