Israel has advised its citizens to leave the Maldives after the government of the Indian Ocean archipelago announced a ban on entry of Israeli nationals amid the war in Gaza . The Maldives government on Sunday announced that the cabinet would change laws to prevent Israeli passport holders from entering the nation. The Mohamed Muizzu government said it would establish a subcommittee to oversee the process and appoint a special envoy to assess the Palestinian needs and launch a fundraising campaign.
The announcement prompted the Israeli foreign ministry to advise Israeli nationals, including those with foreign passports, against travelling to the islands. The ministry has also urged those living in the archipelago to leave. “For Israeli citizens already in the country, it is recommended to consider leaving, because if they find themselves in distress for any reason, it will be difficult for us to assist,” Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement.
A total of 528 Israel nationals have visited the Maldives in the first four months of this year, dropping from 4,644 during the same period in 2023, according to Maldives government data. Nearly 11,000 Israelis visited Maldives last year, which accounted for 0.6 per cent of the total tourist arrivals.
Earlier in December, Israel warned its citizens against visiting Maldives due to "increased anti-Israel sentiment" following prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's offensive on Gaza. The warning was issued “due to the heightened .