Exploring fastest legal route to ban Israel's passport: Minister Ihusan

The government is exploring the fastest legal route to prohibit Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives, said Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusan today at a special press conference held at the President's Office.

The Maldives' government announced it's decision to amend the country's laws to ban anyone trying to enter the country on an Israeli passport as a stance of solidarity with Palestine amidst the ongoing genocide against Palestinian people by Israel.

Minister Ihusan spoke with members of the press today, and revealed the government's decision, detailing that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu put together a committee of cabinet members to ensure the implementation of this decision.

Members on the committee include Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan, Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed, Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal and Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed.

Speaking at the press conference, Minister Ihusan further said that the government’s decision is desired by many and went on to say that while President Dr Muizzu’s initiatives are new stands for the country, the decision to ban Israel’s passport was based on humanity.

The government's decision today comes as locals continue to call on the Maldivian government to ban the Israeli passport in the country, and a member of the press clarified why the government moved to amend the law instead of President Dr. Muizzu exercising his constitutional right as head of state to ban Israelis from entering the country. In response, Minister Ihusan explained that this was the recommendation of Attorney General Usham, based on the existing laws.

“The constitution also discourages singling out specific countries, interpreting the law this way and placing restrictions. We’re exploring the fastest legal route to do this. As such, we believe that entry restrictions into Maldives can be placed via law. We’re recommending to research those laws and amend them,” Minister Ihusan said.

“Our objective is, as I just highlighted, to amend the laws in order to stop the entry into Maldives with Israeli passports.”

While the cabinet moved towards this decision today, MP for South Galolhu constituency Meekail Naseem, who is an opposition candidate from Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), submitted a bill to amend the Immigration Act in order to ban the Israeli passport last week.

When asked whether the government would support this bill, Minister Ihusan said that a definitive answer would be possible only after reviewing the bill.

“It may be possible that we have to align with it as well. We will not differentiate a specific person, a specific member’s proposal. [We] will work to achieve our objective, he said.

Alongside amending the law to ban the Israeli passport, the government also plans to appoint a special envoy to identify Palestine's requests from the Maldives in the Palestinian cause, and organise fund raising events to assist those in need of aid in the besieged Palestinian territory, in partnership with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

It was also announced that a special "Maldivians with Palestine" march will be held at a national capacity in the country, along with special meetings with other Islamic countries for a fast solution to the Palestinian cause.

Palestine's ethnic cleansing by Israeli forces began as early as the 1948 Nakba and since then Palestine has become a besieged enclave overtime. The current events taking place in Palestine began on October 7th after Hamas initiated an attack on Israel, killing over 800 and capturing 240 hostages according to Israeli authorities. Since then Israel has initiated a war against Palestinians with the claim of wanting to eliminate Hamas and rescue the hostages.

However, during this time Israel's forces have bombed hospitals and schools, designated safety routes for evacuation, carpet bombed residential areas, while necessary humanitarian aid remains blocked into Gaza strip through Rafah borders.

Citing multiple war crimes committed by Israel, South Africa initiated legal action against Israel at the ICJ which issued a temporary refrain from any acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and to ensure its troops commit no genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza. However, compliance is yet to be seen.