Saturday, February 22, 2025

Houthis Set to Limit Attacks on Israel-Linked Vessels Amid Gaza Ceasefire

The declaration comes from the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC), which acts as a liaison between the Houthi forces and global shipping operators. The organization is also associated with the Houthi military, reinforcing the significance of this statement within the broader geopolitical context

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The Houthis, a group operating out of Yemen, have announced they will limit their attacks on commercial vessels to those linked to Israel, provided that a ceasefire agreement concerning Gaza is fully implemented.

The declaration comes from the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC), which acts as a liaison between the Houthi forces and global shipping operators.

The organization is also associated with the Houthi military, reinforcing the significance of this statement within the broader geopolitical context.

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In an email sent to shipping industry officials on January 19, the HOCC outlined that sanctions previously imposed on ships owned by US or British entities, as well as those sailing under their flags, will cease.

However, the ceasefire agreement comes with a caveat: if the US, the UK, or Israel—referred to by the Houthis as the “usurping Israeli entity”—launch any aggression against Yemen, the sanctions will be reimposed.

“We affirm that, in the event of any aggression against the Republic of Yemen by the United States of America, the United Kingdom, or the usurping Israeli entity, the sanctions will be reinstated against the aggressor,” the HOCC stated.

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The organization made it clear that shipping operators would be informed if such measures were to be implemented.

The ceasefire coincides with broader diplomatic developments, including the release of three Israeli hostages by Hamas and the exchange of 90 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

While the truce holds, international shipping companies remain cautious, with many diverting vessels around southern Africa rather than taking the route through the Red Sea, which has been a hotspot for attacks in recent months.

Since November 2023, the Houthis, backed by Iran, have carried out more than 100 attacks on commercial vessels, resulting in the sinking of two ships, the seizure of another, and the deaths of at least four seafarers.

Most of these attacks have occurred in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, near the Bab al-Mandab Strait—a critical chokepoint for maritime trade between the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.

Despite the ceasefire, executives from major shipping, insurance, and retail companies have expressed hesitation about resuming operations through the region.

A spokesperson from the German container shipping group Hapag-Lloyd remarked that the company was closely monitoring the situation.

“We will return to the Red Sea when it is safe to do so,” the spokesperson stated, highlighting the uncertainty that continues to plague the area.

Insurance premiums for ships transiting the Red Sea have also risen significantly due to the ongoing risks of attack, further deterring companies from resuming regular voyages.

Higher war-risk insurance premiums, sometimes reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars for a seven-day voyage, continue to make the Red Sea a high-cost, high-risk route for international trade.

One of the most concerning incidents in the region has been the seizure of the Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader, a ship captured by Houthi forces in November 2023. The ship, which had 25 crew members onboard, remains under Houthi control.

The crew members, hailing from various countries including the Philippines, Mexico, Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine, are reported to be in desperate conditions, with some requiring medical treatment for malaria.

As the situation in Yemen and Gaza continues to evolve, the global shipping industry remains on edge, awaiting further developments before committing to a return to the Red Sea trade route.

The hope is that, with the ceasefire holding, normalcy may eventually return to the region. However, the uncertainty surrounding Houthi actions and international tensions remains a significant obstacle for commercial shipping operations.

 

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