Maldives to amend laws to ban Israeli nationals from entering

The Maldivian government has decided to amend its laws to ban Israeli nationals from entering the country, local media cited Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan as reporting, said Xinhua.

At a press briefing on Sunday, Ihusan said the decision was taken at a cabinet meeting held earlier in the day following calls by local citizens to ban Israeli nationals due to devastating attacks in Gaza.

He said the government will make legal amendments to implement the ban and a special committee has been appointed to expedite the process.

The Maldives receives over 1 million tourists per year out of which an estimated 15,000 tourists are from Israel, local media said.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Israeli citizens currently staying in the Maldives to consider leaving the country, following the Maldivian government's announcement of a decision to amend its laws to ban Israeli nationals from entering on Sunday.

"If Israelis who are currently in the Maldives encounter trouble, it will be difficult for us to assist them," the ministry explained.

It also recommended that Israeli citizens refrain from traveling to the Muslim-majority island nation, even if they hold a second passport from another country.