President Mohamed Muizzu said on Friday that the Maldives will strengthen relations with all countries except Israel.

Speaking at a PNC rally held at Artificial Beach to mark two years of the current administration, President Muizzu said he had pledged upon taking office to draw “a thick red line” to safeguard the country’s independence.

He said the government’s foreign policy is based on a “Maldives First” approach and that the Maldives would work closely with all countries willing to cooperate constructively.

“Every country except Israel will have close relations with this country. As long as the Palestinian people are suffering, there will be no welcome for Israelis in the Maldives,” the President said.

He added that the ban on Israeli passports reflects the views of Maldivians. “Israeli passports have been banned because the people of the Maldives do not want them. The Maldives will not welcome those who kill Palestinians to come here and use our seas and beaches. They are not welcome,” he said.

President Muizzu said there had been pressure claiming that the ban on Israeli passports would damage the tourism sector, but he emphasised that in a democracy, decisions must reflect the will of the people.

He said the government “stands with the people, listens to the people, and works towards the people’s goals.”

Israeli passports have been banned since April. The bill proposing the ban was submitted by opposition MDP MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, who initially sought to prevent Israeli citizens from entering the Maldives even if they held passports from a second country.

However, the PNC-majority Parliament approved the bill in a form that allows dual citizens with non-Israeli passports to enter the Maldives.

The legislation was passed after spending two years at committee stage, during which members of the public had expressed concern about the delay.