The Houthis have given Israel an ultimatum. Attacks on merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea will resume if Benjamin Netanyahu has not restored humanitarian aid to Gaza by tomorrow. Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi gave the announcement following Israel’s decision to block humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip following Hamas’ refusal to accept the Witkoff plan, which the Israeli government had, instead, accepted.
The plan, drawn up by the US Middle East envoy, envisaged an extension of the first phase of the Gaza truce agreement by about 50 days, including the entire Ramadan period – the holy month for Islam that began on March 1st – and the Jewish Passover.
After over 100 ships had been attacked since late 2023 and throughout last year, the Houthis had ceased their campaign against merchant ships earlier this year, in line with the tentative peace agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Translation by Giles Foster
