Citizens from Syria, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia and Libya have been barred from the US for 90 days under controversial security measures implemented by Donald Trump.

However, six of the seven banned states also bar citizens by nationality, an argument often cited by Mr Trump's supporters in an attempt to normalise the unprecedented steps.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the banned countries of Syria, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Libya all block Israeli citizens from entering their own countries, and the measures are also enforced in Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

However, international politics professor Fawaz Gerges at London School of Economics said comparisons between America and Arab-Israeli relations “fly in the face of reality”.

“Trump’s ban is a Muslim ban, based on religious discrimination and racial discrimination. The relationship between Israel and its Arab neighbours is one of war since 1947 - for the last 70 years. By trying to force comparison, it just flies in the face of reality, it’s apples and oranges, sky and sea,” he told The Independent.

“The boycott of Israel by Arab nations is a completely different thing. The Arab world offered Israel a kind of a deal - a Palestinian state in return for normalised political relations. But we are not talking about these small warring states, we are talking about the leader of the free world, the defender of human rights. What Trump has done has undermined America as a moral voice in the world."

“We are talking about blocking poor countries, that are war torn, they don't have the means and the ability to retaliate - what kind of options do they have against the US? That’s why Trump has chosen these states - Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan aren’t on the list because they have options.”

The US citizen also discredited claims Barack Obama took a similar approach in 2011 when he temporarily increased vetting measures of Iraqi citizens travelling to the US.

“What we need to understand is there a qualitative difference between the measures put in place between the Obama administration and the blanket ban put in place by Trump,” he said.

“Obama’s measures were to protect the US against potential threats based on specific information gathered by national security forces in 2011 and 2015.”

Dr Gerges, who is a leading expert on Isis and Al Qaeda, said Mr Trump’s ban was ultimately counter intuitive as it would play into the hands of terrorist recruiters.

“It serves as massive propaganda for Al-Qaeda and ISIS, it shifts the debate between being a war within islam to being a war between the West and Islam,” he said.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

He also accused Mr Trump of executing a “political, ideological decision” in order to play to his core base of alt-right supporters and tea party republicans.

“All the evidence we have is most of the attacks that take place on American soil are carried out by American citizens or residents,” he said.

“This is a political decision, an ideological decision, playing to his alt-right base and this is the beginning.”

Green card and visa holders were being blocked from boarding US-bound flights within hours of Mr Trump issuing the new order.

Refugee admissions to the country have also been suspended for 120 days as part of measures the Republican leader claimed would “keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the US”.