In a strong show of support for the people of Gaza, an island in the Maldives has made a courageous move by prohibiting Israeli passport holders.
In Short
Signs on the island’s beaches boldly state “We do not want your blood-stained money” and “Entry is banned for anybody with an Israeli passport.” The continuous Israeli attacks on Gaza since October have led to this action.
The Maldivian Parliament has recently made a unified decision to pass a resolution, which was proposed by MP Saud Hussain representing Villingili. This resolution prohibits Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives and stops the import of goods from Israel. The resolution, presented on October 14, 2023, gained the backing of all 41 lawmakers.
Once the resolution was submitted, a parliamentary committee carefully examined the proposal and shared their report on Monday. During the subsequent discussion, the lawmakers voiced their serious concerns about the harm caused by Israeli forces to Palestinians in the occupied territories. They highlighted the significance of enforcing a ban on Israeli tourists visiting the Maldives.
A TikTok video featuring the signs along the island’s shoreline gained significant attention, drawing global notice and sparking discussions on social media. The video, created by a popular tourism creator, highlighted the signs’ message, which included a QR code linking to evidence of Israeli atrocities in Gaza. However, the QR code was later removed in compliance with platform standards.
This move has been commended by activists for shedding light on the plight of Gaza and raising awareness on a global scale. Many people believe that this symbolic act will inspire other countries to voice their opposition to Israel’s actions.
The Maldivian island’s stance has been compared to countries that continue to welcome Israeli tourists, with some viewing it as a principled stand against injustice.
A journalist highlighted the significance of the Maldives’ decision, stating, “Even the Maldives refuses to accept Israeli tourists, sending a clear message: ‘We don’t want your blood-stained money.'”
Previous protests by Maldivians against Israeli attacks in Gaza have also influenced this decision, with a legislator proposing the ban on Israeli passport holders due to Israel’s violations of human rights and the suffering of civilians in Gaza.
