Maldives bars Israeli passport holders over Gaza war

MALE, MALDIVES: The Maldives has changed its immigration law to bar Israeli passport holders from the country over the war in Gaza.

The amendment was passed by Parliament on Monday and approved by President Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday, according to a statement from the president's office.

It was not immediately clear whether the law would apply to dual nationals who have both passports from both Israeli and another country.

The Cabinet took the decision nearly a year ago but the government did not formalize it until this week.

"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," the statement said.

Maldives is a tiny archipelago state south of India known as a high-end tourist destination. It is predominantly a Sunni Muslim nation where preaching and practicing other faiths is legally banned.

According to the latest available immigration statistics, 59 people with Israeli passports entered the Maldives in February.