New Delhi: Following the Maldives’ decision to ban Israeli passport holders, the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi on Monday encouraged its citizens to visit India and explore its beaches instead.
The Embassy posted on X: “Since the Maldives is no longer welcoming Israelis, here are some beautiful and amazing Indian beaches where Israeli tourists are warmly welcomed and treated with utmost hospitality.”
The Maldives announced the entry ban for Israeli passport holders amid public outrage over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The decision was made public by Home Minister Ali Ihusan during an emergency press briefing at the President’s Office late Sunday afternoon, according to Sun Online International.
Ihusan stated that the decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting, saying, “The cabinet decided today to make the legal amendments necessary to ban entry into the Maldives on Israeli passports as soon as possible.”
Reports indicate that the Maldives, known for its pristine sandy white beaches and shallow turquoise lagoons, welcomes over one million tourists annually, including around 15,000 Israeli visitors.
The ban follows a proposal by Meekail Ahmed Naseem, a lawmaker from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), to amend the Immigration Act to bar the entry of Israeli citizens.
The decision comes in the wake of Israel’s military action in Gaza, which began after Hamas launched an attack on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of at least 240 hostages by Hamas members.
