Parliament’s National Security Committee (241) has agreed to assess Israeli passport holders to the Maldives and evaluate the potential impact of a proposed passport ban. 

This decision comes in response to a bill submitted by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) member Meekail Ahmed Naseem on 29 May 2024, which seeks to prohibit Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives due to the ongoing genocide in Palestine.

The committee will engage in a series of consultations with key stakeholders, including all political parties, Attorney General’s Office, Immigration Department, Ministries of Economic Development and Tourism, Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), and various non-governmental organisations. The decision to proceed with this review was reached by majority vote.

While facing criticism from the opposition regarding potential delays, the committee aims to complete its work on the bill by February 2025.