Lakshadweep, Goa, Andaman: Israel Asks Its Citizens to Visit Indian Beaches After Maldives' Ban

New Delhi: Israel, in a formal announcement, has asked its citizens to visit Indian beaches after Maldives decided to ban Israeli citizens from entering the country. The Maldivian government decided to ban Israeli citizens from entering the  Indian Ocean archipelago over its offensive in Gaza. Maldives receives more than one million tourists each year. This includes around 15,000 tourists from Israel.

Following the decision of Maldivian government, Israel's Embassy in India asked its citizens to visit beaches in India. In a post on X, Israeli embassy also listed out some prominent beaches in India- including Lakshadweep, Goa, Kerala and Andaman Nicobar islands. The Israeli embassy told its citizens that they would be treated with utmost hospitality by Indians.  

“Since the Maldives is no longer welcoming Israelis, here are some beautiful and amazing Indian beaches where where Israeli tourists are warmly welcomed and treated with utmost hospitality,” said the Israel's Embassy in India in a post on X. Israel's embassy said that the recommendations are based the advice of diplomats who have visited the sites.

On this, Israel's ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, said that he has himself already visited two of the recommended sites and has witnessed the Indian hospitality. “I have personally been to Kerala and Goa and can warmly recommend both the incredible beauty as well as the family like hospitality,” said Gilon in a post on X.

Maldives Bans Israeli Tourists

The Maldivian Government on Sunday announces its decision to amend country's law to ban ban Israeli passport holders from entering the archipelago. The decision was taken amid  amid mounting public anger in the country over the attacks by Israeli forces on Gaza.

The decision was announced by Home Minister Ali Ihusan at an emergency press briefing at the President's Office, news portal Sun.mv reported. "The cabinet decided today to make the legal amendments necessary to ban entry into the Maldives on Israeli passports as soon as possible,” he said. The cabinet has also set up a special committee of ministers to expedite the process.

The cabinet also decided to appoint a special presidential envoy to identify the areas in which Palestine requires support from Maldives and organise fundraising events to assist Palestinians through the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).