Houthi rebels have issued a four-day ultimatum to Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza aid. Failing to comply will result in the resumption of naval operations against Israel. This development follows a series of previous Houthi assaults on shipping since November 2023, aimed at supporting Palestinians amid ongoing conflict.
On Friday, the leader of the Houthi rebels in Yemen announced a four-day ultimatum for Israel to lift its blockade on humanitarian aid into Gaza. Should Israel fail to comply, the Houthis threatened to resume their naval operations against Israel, indicating a potential intensification of their previous military activities. Since November 2023, the Iran-aligned group had conducted over 100 attacks on shipping to express solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, significantly impacting global maritime trade.
In their statement, the Houthis emphasized that the four-day deadline would allow mediators for the Gaza ceasefire to act. They warned, “If the Israeli enemy after four days continues to prevent the humanitarian aid into Gaza and continues to completely close the crossings, we will resume our naval operations against the Israeli enemy.”
The blockade by Israel commenced on March 2, with officials alleging that Hamas was misappropriating the aid intended for Palestinians. In a show of support, Hamas endorsed the Houthi declaration, stating, “The brave decision… is an extension of the positions of support and assistance that they [the Houthis] provided over the course of 15 months of war… in Gaza.” Additionally, the Houthis reiterated their readiness for armed action should there be any attempts by the U.S. or Israel to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza.
In summary, the Houthi rebels have set a four-day deadline for Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza aid, threatening the resumption of military operations against Israel if this demand is not met. Their recent history includes significant naval attacks aimed at disrupting shipping in opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza. The situation remains tense as both Hamas and the Houthis express solidarity in their stance against the blockade.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
