The Houthis in Yemen Resuming Attacks on Israeli Ships Following the Deadline for Gaza Aid

Israel’s failure to ease its blockade on aid to Gaza has prompted Yemen’s Houthis to relaunch assaults on ships connected to Israel.

The Yemeni Houthi movement has declared that it will resume attacking ships associated with Israel in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. This marks the end of a period of relative peace that started in January after the ceasefire in Gaza.

The Iran-backed Houthis have attacked more than 100 commercial ships since November 2023, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in the midst of Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. As a result of their onslaught, at least four seafarers were killed, two ships were sunk, and another was taken. International shipping firms were compelled by the disruptions to use more expensive and time-consuming routes across southern Africa.

The Houthis’ leader threatened to restart naval operations unless Israel lifted its ban on humanitarian aid to Gaza within four days, which prompted the most recent escalation. Israel obstructed supply vehicles’ access on March 2, further escalating the truce deadlock. Hamas responded by calling on Qatari and Egyptian mediators to step in.

In an emailed statement on Wednesday, the Houthis confirmed that the blockade of vessels with ties to Israel was immediate and stated that the ban will remain in place until the ports to the Gaza Strip are reopened and humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, is permitted to enter.

The Houthis are still classified as a “foreign terrorist organization” (FTO), according to the United States. In an effort to inflict harsher economic sanctions on the group for its attacks on international shipping and US warships operating in the area, the US State Department reinstituted the designation in January under the Trump administration.

With tensions between regional and international forces rising and worries about the security of international trade routes expanding, the fresh Houthi offensives contribute to the Middle East’s already increasing instability.