The Maldives has banned Israeli passport holders in solidarity with Palestinians over the Gaza conflict.

The government of the Maldives announced on Tuesday that it is prohibiting Israeli nationals from entering the South Asian archipelago, citing Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza as the reason behind the decision.

According to a statement from the office of President Mohamed Muizzu, the move was made in “resolute solidarity” with the Palestinian people.

The Maldives had initially reached the decision to ban Israeli nationals in June 2024. On Tuesday, the country’s legislature, known as the People’s Majlis, passed an amendment to the Maldives Immigration Act that officially bars the entry of individuals holding Israeli passports.

Shortly after the parliamentary vote, President Muizzu ratified the amendment. His administration had been facing growing pressure from both political allies and opposition parties to enact the ban as a political statement against the ongoing war.

"The ratification reflects the government's firm stance in response to the continuing atrocities and ongoing acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people," the president’s office stated.

Israel denies any accusations of genocide related to its military actions in Gaza, which escalated following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israeli territory by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The Maldivian government did not specify the exact date the ban would take effect.

Although the Maldives and Israel do not have full diplomatic relations, Israeli citizens have been able to visit the Maldives — a renowned tourist destination famed for its white sand beaches, clear waters, and luxury island resorts.

Islam is the state religion in the Maldives. The country had previously imposed a ban on Israeli tourists, which it revoked in the early 1990s. In 2010, there was a brief attempt to restore diplomatic ties.

In recent months, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already advised Israeli citizens to avoid traveling to the Maldives.

In February, only 59 Israeli tourists visited the Maldives out of a total of 214,000 foreign travelers, according to official data.

Another predominantly Muslim South Asian country, Bangladesh, also barred its citizens from visiting Israel last week in response to public outrage over the conflict in Gaza. The country reintroduced the “except Israel” clause on its passports.

Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Syria are among other countries that either ban Israeli passport holders or prohibit their own citizens from traveling to Israel.