Houthis give Israel four days to lift blockade on aid to Gaza

(Patria) - Leader of the Yemeni Houthis Abdul Malik al-Houthi said on Friday that his group will continue maritime operations against Israel if Tel Aviv does not lift the blockade of aid to Gaza within four days, Reuters reported.

The Iran-aligned movement has carried out more than 100 attacks on shipping since November 2023, saying it stands in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza, and the attacks stopped in January after a ceasefire there.

During that period, it sank two ships, seized one, and killed at least four sailors in an offensive that disrupted global shipping, forcing companies to reroute to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa.

- We will give a deadline of four days. This deadline is for the mediators (for a ceasefire in Gaza) for their efforts. If the Israeli enemy continues to prevent humanitarian aid to Gaza after four days and continues to completely close the crossings, we will continue our maritime operations against the Israeli enemy - said al-Houthi.

Israel blocked aid trucks from entering Gaza on March 2 as the conflict over a ceasefire escalated, and Hamas called on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene.

The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, also said in February that they would take military action if the United States and Israel attempted to forcibly expel Palestinians from Gaza.