The Houthis in Yemen issued an ultimatum to Israel on Friday, reiterating their demands the following day. They have threatened to resume attacks on ships unless Israel resumes humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza by Tuesday.
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned in a televised address, “If the Israeli enemy continues to prevent the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip after the first four days, we will resume our naval operations against the Israeli enemy.”
The Israeli government announced on March 2 that it had halted all humanitarian aid to Gaza after Hamas rejected a ceasefire extension proposed by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Following a series of attacks on over 100 ships from late 2023 through 2024, the Houthis had paused their offensive against merchant shipping this year, aligning with a tentative peace agreement between Israel and Hamas.
In response to the evolving situation, British maritime security firm Ambrey is advising merchant shipping companies to review their affiliations with the Houthi target profile and reassess the risks associated with voyages through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
