Maldives to amend law to ban Israel passport

The President's Office announced today that the cabinet has decided to amend laws to prohibit Israeli passport holders from entering the country.

In a press conference held at the President's Office, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan said that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, in a cabinet meeting held today, decided to amend the country's laws to facilitate banning Israel's passport in the country.

As such, a special cabinet committee of Ministers has been put together, he said.

A document shared by the President's Office additionally revealed that President Dr. Muizzu has decided to appoint a special envoy to identify Palestine's requests from the Maldives regarding the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people by Israel.

According to the document, Maldives will also 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).

The document further states that a special "Maldivians with Palestine" march will also be held on a national capacity in the country, along with special meetings with other Islamic countries for a fast solution to the Palestinian cause.

Although the previous parliament's Foreign Relation's Committee decided to request President Dr Muizzu to ban the Israeli passport via letter, no action was taken to implement this decision.

The government's decision today comes as locals continue to call on the Maldivian government to ban the Israeli passport in the country.

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.