Hundreds gathered to march in support of Palestinian rights in the capital Male’ on Friday evening.
The event was organised by Youth for Unity in collaboration with other civil society groups, religious scholars and religious organisations with hundreds armed with placards and banners calling on Israel to put an end to the atrocities being committed against Palestinian people in Gaza.
The march began at the west end of Male' from the Social Center ending at the east most point at the Artificial Beach.
The event in the capital follows a similar March in the second most populated city of Addu earlier this week.
The recent gatherings to voice support for the Palestinian cause comes after the government banned entry into the Maldives on Israeli passports.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s ratification of the amendment to the Maldives Immigration Act on Tuesday, banned the entry of Israeli passports into the Maldives with immediate effect.
Following the ratification, Immigration in a travel advisory to visitors said, effective from 15 April 2025, entry into the Maldives on an Israeli passport is impermissible.
The amendment introduces a new provision to the Immigration Act, expressly prohibiting the entry of individuals holding Israeli passports into the territory of the Republic of Maldives. 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 move has drawn the attention of major media outlets, including Al Jazeera, Russia's RT News and other major media outlets.
People from across the world have also taken to social media to express their admiration and gratitude to President Muizzu, his government and the people of Maldives, with many hailing the Maldives as an example in advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people. Others described the President’s decision as bold and courageous, calling on other nations to adopt similar measures.
The President has consistently championed the rights of the Palestinian people in the international arena. He has strongly condemned Israel's inhuman actions and spoken out in favor of the Palestinian people in all international forums he has participated in so far. The Maldives is also participating in ongoing legal cases filed against Israel in international courts.