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In a significant development underscoring the evolving dynamics of Middle Eastern geopolitics, senior figures from Hamas and Yemen’s Houthi rebels convened in a rare meeting to discuss strategies for coordinated action against Israel.
Palestinian factional sources revealed to AFP that the meeting took place recently, indicating a deepening alliance between the two groups.
Both Hamas and the Houthis are part of what is known as the “axis of resistance,” a coalition of Iran-backed movements vehemently opposed to Israel and the United States. This alliance also encompasses Lebanon’s Hezbollah and various Iraqi militias.
The meeting, attended by leaders from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, focused on mechanisms to enhance their resistance efforts in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Discussions included plans to coordinate actions against a potential Israeli ground assault in southern Gaza’s Rafah region.
Rafah, described as Hamas’s last stronghold in Gaza, is home to approximately 1.5 million people, most of whom are displaced and enduring dire living conditions, according to the United Nations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed approval of the military’s plan for an operation in Rafah, raising concerns about further escalation in the already volatile region.
Meanwhile, the Houthis reiterated their commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause by targeting Red Sea shipping, purportedly in solidarity with Gaza. Notably, their attacks have expanded beyond the immediate region, with threats to target vessels navigating past South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.
The repercussions of the conflict are staggering, with the October 7 attack by Hamas resulting in approximately 1,160 deaths in Israel, predominantly civilians, as per official Israeli figures.
Additionally, Palestinian groups seized around 250 Israeli and foreign hostages, underscoring the complexity and humanitarian toll of the conflict.
In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign against Hamas has claimed the lives of at least 31,490 people in Gaza, with a disproportionate number being women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The meeting between Hamas and the Houthis underscores the growing solidarity among Iran-backed factions in the region, posing significant challenges to efforts to de-escalate tensions and pursue a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene and facilitate dialogue between conflicting parties, lest the already precarious situation in the Middle East spirals further out of control.
This alliance’s ramifications extend beyond regional borders, highlighting the complex web of alliances and conflicts that define the contemporary Middle East landscape.