The Maldives government has decided to ban all Israeli passports, according to a statement released by the President's official spokesman's office. President Mohamed Muizz decided to change the country's laws in light of growing public anger over Israeli attacks on Gaza. On May 28, President Muizz took to Twitter to strongly condemn “the deadly Israeli attack on the Rafah tent camp” and called for an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian access and an end to the violence.
Muizz's office broke the news on Sunday through the Maldives' Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, who said the cabinet had recommended the ban on Israeli passports. He went on to say that the decision includes amending all laws necessary to prevent Israeli passport holders from entering the country and “establishing a cabinet subcommittee to oversee these efforts.”
According to local news outlet The Sun Online, the cabinet will be made up of the ministers of homeland security and technology, the minister of Islamic affairs, the attorney general, the minister of economic development and trade, the minister of tourism and the minister of foreign affairs.
The Cabinet decided to study areas in Palestine that need Maldivian support and to hold a nationwide rally under the slogan “Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine.”Original version: “Faladheenaa Eku Dhiveheen”The Maldives government also expressed its willingness to cooperate with other Islamic countries to resolve the Palestinian conflict.
According to Interior Minister Ali Ifsan, the law will come into effect “as soon as possible.” The Maldivian parliament, which was inaugurated last week, will hold its second meeting on the issue on Monday. The current ruling party, the People's National Congress (PNC), which holds an overwhelming majority in parliament, will vote on the issue to ensure that the law is amended to allow the ban on Israeli passports to come into effect.
Any future decisions by the Maldives regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will be taken by a special cabinet that will monitor the situation while a fundraising campaign launched by the president to “support our Palestinian brothers” is carried out, Muizz's office reported.
