FACT CHECK: Did The Maldives Ban Israelis From Entering The Country?

A post on X claims that the Maldives have recently banned Israelis from entering their country.

🚨🇲🇻🇮🇱 BREAKING: MALDIVES BANS ISRAELIS from entering country! pic.twitter.com/lz9J2NARU3

— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) January 8, 2025

Verdict: Misleading

While no official declaration has been announced as of press time, there are bills introduced that would do this. Those bills are currently suspended.

Fact Check:

The Maldives is an archipelagic state made up of islands in the Indian Ocean, and it is the smallest country in Asia by land mass. It is known for its picturesque scenery and great climate due to its location on the equator, and it attracts tourism from many western nations.

A post on X claims that the island country has banned those with Israeli passports from entering the country. Check Your Fact researched this, and found that it is a bit misleading. While legislation was introduced in June of 2024 that would ban Israeli nationals from entry, it is currently parked amid “further review.” Citizens with Israeli passports are currently allowed entry into the Maldives, with no timetable set for a future ban at press time.

In the viral video, the speaker mentions that along with the Israeli passport ban, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be arrested if he tries to enter the island nation. This is true, as there is an arrest warrant for him through the International Criminal Court, which the Maldives enforces.

The bill banning Israeli passports was shelved as lawmakers debate whether to ban citizens or officials. The majority Muslim country expresses concern about other Israeli citizens, with the Attorney General stating ““There are a lot of Palestinian citizens who hold the Israeli passport, counting in the millions. So what would happen if we do a blanket ban like that, these are matters we should think about a little.”