By Guest 
In a stunning move that’s sparked global debate, the Maldives has officially banned Israeli nationals from entering its sun-kissed shores, a decision that’s as much about geopolitics as it is about sending shockwaves through the travel industry.
President Mohamed Muizzu signed the controversial law on April 15, 2025, declaring “resolute solidarity” with the Palestinian cause amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. But with the Maldives’ economy heavily reliant on tourism, is this a principled stand—or a self-inflicted wound?
Maldives Slams Door on Israelis
The ban, effective immediately, comes after months of escalating tensions. The Maldives, a Muslim-majority nation of 1,192 coral islets, has long had a complicated relationship with Israel. Diplomatic ties were severed in 1974, and despite a brief thaw in the 1990s that allowed Israeli tourists to visit, relations soured again by 2014.
In December 2023, Israel issued a travel warning for its citizens, citing rising anti-Israel sentiment in the Maldives—a warning that now seems prophetic. Just last year, 11,000 Israelis visited the Maldives, making up 0.6% of its 1.8 million annual tourists. While that number may seem small, the Maldives’ tourism sector, which accounts for nearly 30% of its GDP, thrives on every visitor.
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President Muizzu’s office didn’t mince words. “The ratification reflects the government’s firm stance in response to the continuing atrocities and ongoing acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people,” a statement read, echoing sentiments Muizzu shared at the UN General Assembly in 2024, where he accused Israel of targeting journalists to cover up its “crimes” in Gaza and Lebanon. Israel has firmly rejected these accusations, with the ban further straining an already fragile relationship.
The decision has ignited a firestorm on social media. On X, reactions range from applause to outrage. “First Ireland, now Maldives. The world is getting smaller for the baby killers… Who saw that coming?” posted @FalestiniBoss, while @StockMarketIndia called it a “dumb move” for a nation so dependent on tourism, warning that “idiots will starve to death following a devilish religion.” Others, like @KingOffX_, speculated darkly: “Next step? Welcoming Hamas members like honored guests? Maldives has gone full-blown radical.”
The Maldives isn’t alone in its stance. At least 28 UN member states, including 15 Arab League nations like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Algeria, do not recognize Israel, a position rooted in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and historical events like the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. The Maldives’ ban follows a similar announcement in June 2024, though it wasn’t formalized until now. Meanwhile, the Gaza war continues to polarize the globe, with 146 countries recognizing Palestine as a state, while major powers like the U.S., Canada, and much of Western Europe do not.
But the real question is: can the Maldives afford this? Tourism is the lifeblood of its economy, and the ban risks alienating not just Israeli visitors but also travelers from countries sympathetic to Israel.
@DanMiller2314 quipped on X, “Oh, no, what will we do now? We can’t visit the Maldives… Genuine question: What is the Maldives?”—a sentiment that underscores the potential obscurity the Maldives might face if more tourists turn away. On the flip side, supporters like @Ronewa_Mathephe declared, “We stand with Maldives in these difficult times!”
The ban also highlights the Maldives’ strict cultural policies. Only Sunni Muslims can hold citizenship, and non-Muslims are barred from public worship—a fact that @ori0n7 pointed out on X, calling it “apartheid” while others see it as a sovereign right. With global eyes now on the Maldives, this tiny island nation has thrust itself into the center of a geopolitical maelstrom. Will this bold move cement its moral stance, or will it sink its economy beneath the turquoise waves? Only time will tell.