Maldives President Says Israeli Entry Ban Will Stay in Place

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu said the country will continue barring Israelis from entry, turning the issue into a sharp domestic political fight in the Indian Ocean nation. Speaking at a large rally for his People’s National Congress party on the island of Dhoonidhoo, Muizzu used Israel to attack the opposition and present the ban as proof of his government’s religious and national stance.

Muizzu accused the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party of secretly and openly pursuing normalization with Jerusalem under previous governments. He said the former leadership had even advanced plans for direct flights and considered bringing in Israeli doctors for eye care. According to him, those efforts were stopped only by public outrage and street protests, not by the prior government itself.

“The only exception is Israel,” Muizzu declared, saying the Maldives is open to the world but that Israel will remain off-limits. He added, “Under our vision, entry with an Israeli passport was prohibited, and we will continue moving forward based on this belief.” He also described the earlier warming of ties as a “destructive policy.”

The president framed the ban as part of a broader nationalist and Islamic agenda, saying his administration would prioritize religion, security, and national development. The speech, initially meant to celebrate local election victories, became a political manifesto signaling that the Israeli boycott is now both foreign policy and a central domestic weapon in Maldives politics.