The Guesthouse Association has called for banning Israeli leaders from entering the Maldives instead of imposing a blanket ban on all Israeli passport holders.

This suggestion was made during a meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Security Services (241 Committee) regarding a proposed amendment to the immigration law, which seeks to ban Israeli passport holders.

Ahmed Waheed, Vice President of the Guesthouse Association, expressed concerns about the broad nature of the proposed ban. He noted that some Palestinian Muslims also hold Israeli passports, commonly referred to as "Dual passports." Waheed argued that such a ban could unfairly impact these individuals. He also highlighted Israel's significance in markets like the UK, which are important for Maldivian tourism.

Waheed referenced the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister and a former defence minister over alleged genocide in Palestine. He emphasised that the ICC's actions targeted specific leaders, not all Israelis or Jews, suggesting that the Maldives could adopt a similarly targeted approach.

The association also warned that taking an extreme stance could harm the Maldives’ economy. They noted that a significant share of online tourism platforms is managed by individuals connected to the Jewish community, and alienating them might negatively affect the country’s vital tourism sector.