Dr Mohamed Muizzu President of the Maldives

[Kenneth Erwin Engelhardt]

The Republic of the Maldives is a nation of islands scattered across the Indian Ocean spanning the equator. The entire population is officially counted as Muslim. The government does not allow the practice of any other religion by its citizens. The Maldives has been long known as a resort area because of its beaches and tropical location. Even though it did not have diplomatic relations with Israel, the island was popular with Israeli tourists. About 11,000 Israelis visited the island nation last year.

Apparently because of the Israel - Gaza war, the island nation issued a ban on Israeli passport holders. Here is the press release: https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/30948

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, following a recommendation from the Cabinet, has resolved to impose a ban on Israeli passports. The Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihsaan, announced the decision at a news conference held at the President's Office this afternoon.

The Cabinet's decision includes amending necessary laws to prevent entry into the Maldives with Israeli passports and establishing a Cabinet subcommittee to oversee these efforts.

Additionally, in the case of Palestine and Israel, the President decided to appoint a special envoy to assess Palestinian needs. The President further decided to set up a fundraising campaign to assist our brothers and sisters in Palestine with the help of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and to conduct a nationwide rally under the slogan "Falastheenaa Eku Dhivehin," which translates to "Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine" to show support.

Well, this was reported in the Times of Israel: https://www.timesofisrael.com/maldives-set-to-bar-israelis-from-visiting-foreign-ministry-issues-travel-warning/

And it made waves in the United States: Apparently this action pissed off congress that legislation is being crafted that says in effect if you ban Israeli passport holders from traveling to your country, we will cut off your foreign aid.

Part of the News Article: https://www.axios.com/2024/06/04/israel-maldives-travel-ban-us-bill

U.S. lawmakers are crafting legislation aimed at stopping the Maldives from banning Israeli passport holders from entering the country, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The tiny, Muslim-majority archipelago and luxury tourist destination this week became the first country since the Oct. 7 attack to announce plans to institute such a passport ban in response to the war in Gaza.

Driving the news: Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) is developing legislation that would condition U.S. aid to the Maldives on allowing Israeli passport holders into the country, a source familiar with the matter told Axios.

• Gottheimer, one of Israel's most steadfast defenders in Congress, is working with colleagues in both parties on the bill, which will be called the Protecting Allied Travel Here (PATH) Act, the source said.

Catch up quick: The office of President Mohamed Muizzu said in a statement Sunday that the Maldives would impose the ban on Israeli passport holders following a recommendation from his cabinet.

• Muizzi also appointed a special envoy to "assess Palestinian needs" and set up a fundraising campaign to provide aid to Gaza in a campaign called "Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine."
• Nearly 11,000 Israelis visited the country last year, accounting for 0.6 percent of the Maldives' foreign tourist arrivals, according to the Times of Israel.
• The Maldives joins 27 other Musli-majority countries with longstanding bans on Israeli passport holders.