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Iran-backed Houthis increase their shipping threats
The Iranian-backed Houthis have increased their threats to shipping in the Red Sea. This now has become a daily type of threat, whereas in the first two months of the war the threats occurred with less regularity.
What this means is that in the last two weeks since the pause in fighting ended in Gaza on December 1, there has been an unprecedented escalation by the Houthis.
The group openly says it is attempting to blockade Israel. It is now clear if it can carry out that threat completely, but its constant harassment of shipping illustrates that it seeks to show it can try.
Recent Houthi attacks
On Wednesday, the Houthis launched missiles at a cargo ship that was carrying fuel, a potentially devastating incident.
In addition, “a Houthi drone was shot down by a US warship,” the National in the UAE reported. “The Ardmore Encounter suffered no damage during the attempted attack and was reportedly carrying its cargo to Rotterdam from the Indian port of Mangalore,” the report noted.
It also notes that ten percent of global oil is transported via the Bab el-Mandeb straits, where the Houthis are actively targeting ships. “On Wednesday morning, gunmen in a speedboat approached two vessels in the Strait, the British maritime security Agency Ambrey said,” the National noted.
In addition, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations group posted about several incidents at sea near Yemen. One involved small boats harassing a ship 50 nautical miles from Hodeidah. Armed security on the ship fired warning shots.
Small boats also harassed a ship 90 nautical miles off of Al-Duqm in Oman. This is about 500 miles from Yemen, meaning the boats had gone a long way if they came from Yemen.
It is worth looking back over the last two weeks at all the incidents involving Houthi attacks. On December 3, there were four attacks against three commercial ships. The USS Carney responded to distress calls from the ships.
Attacks in the past two weeks
The ships included the Bahamas-flagged Unity Explorer, which is a bulk cargo ship. A missile targeted the Unity Explorer. A drone also targeted the Carney itself. Another ship called the Number 9 was also struck by a missile. The Sophie II, a third ship, was also struck by a missile.
“These attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. They have jeopardized the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world. We also have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran. The United States will consider all appropriate responses in full coordination with its international allies and partners,” US Central Command said.
Days later on December 6 the Houthis fired a missile at Eilat. In addition, there were reports of a drone harassing a ship near Hodeidah. The USS Mason then shot down a drone as well.
On December 9 the Houthis released a statement threatening all ships bound for Israel. The next day the French warship Languedoc downed two Houthi drones. On December 11 a ship called the Strinda was attacked by an anti-ship missile launched by the Houthis. The USS Mason responded to the mayday call from the ship.
The frequency of these attacks now indicates a clear and present danger to shipping. Shipping costs, insurance, and other issues are being affected.
So far, the Houthis feel they have impunity to continue the attacks.
Israel’s political echelon, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has ordered the IDF to prepare for an “immediate” return to fighting in Gaza, KAN News reported on Friday evening.
The Jerusalem Post reported earlier this week that Israeli officials estimated that if no agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas, Israel would return to fighting in Gaza in about a week and a half.
“Hamas is currently rejecting [US Middle East envoy Steve] Witkoff’s proposal, so it is very difficult to make progress,” one official said.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Witkoff’s plan involves the release of half of the living hostages and the return of half of the bodies on the first day of the continued deal. The rest of the hostages and bodies would be returned on the 42nd day, which would be the final day of the ceasefire.However, some claim that the terrorist organization has not rejected the proposal. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, “Hamas has neither accepted nor rejected the Witkoff proposal.”
Eyal Zamir to Gaza border community heads: We’re preparing to fight
On his first day as the new IDF chief of staff on Thursday, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir told heads of local councils from the Gaza border communities that “we are preparing to return to fighting” in Gaza.
“We must defeat Hamas,” Zamir said. “We are also preparing to resume fighting. The hostages are our top priority.”
Amichai Stein contributed to this report.
Negotiations over the continued release of hostages held in Gaza have stalled, and “right now there is nothing happening,” sources familiar with details of the talks admitted in conversation with The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
“Right now, there’s nothing happening,” an Israeli official told the Post, adding that “Hamas is currently rejecting the Witkoff proposal, so it is very difficult to make progress.”
According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the Witkoff plan involves the release of half of the living hostages and the return of half of the bodies on the first day of the deal. The second half of the hostages and bodies would be returned on the 42nd day, which would be the final day of the ceasefire.
On the other hand, some claim that Hamas has not rejected the proposal. “Hamas has neither accepted nor rejected the Witkoff proposal,” said a source with knowledge of the negotiations with the Post.“Hamas has said it is willing to negotiate and has not rejected the plan. Since Israel currently states that this is the proposal on the table, from Israel’s perspective, Hamas has rejected it.”
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff not expected to visit Israel soon, source says
An Israeli source told the Post that there is no expectation for Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, to visit the region at the moment, adding, “He will only come to finalize a deal. And since there is no real progress right now, it is unclear when or if he will arrive.”
Without an agreement on the release of additional hostages in the coming days, Israeli sources say Israel is preparing to escalate its actions against Hamas. After the decision on Sunday to stop humanitarian aid, Israel is preparing to cut off water and electricity to the Gaza Strip, as well as resume fighting – some say this might happen, without a deal, as early as next week.
Israeli officials suggest that even without accepting the Witkoff initiative, Hamas might agree to release additional hostages in the near future in exchange for the release of terrorists from prison and the entry of caravans and humanitarian aid, but they add that this also depends on other issues.
“The Israeli government needs to decide what will be negotiated with Hamas and what they will receive in exchange for the release of hostages in the coming weeks,” said an Israeli source. “Hamas’s agreement to release more hostages depends on the answers to these questions.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that Israel responded to the mediators’ request to allow a few more days of negotiations. Katz added,d “If Hamas does not release the hostages soon, the gates of Gaza will be locked and the gates of hell will be opened – we will return to fighting, and they will face the IDF with forces and methods they have never encountered before.”
Israeli officials suggest that even without accepting the Witkoff initiative, Hamas might agree to release additional hostages in the near future in exchange for the release of terrorists from prison and the entry of caravans and humanitarian aid, but they add that this also depends on other issues. “The Israeli government needs to decide what will be negotiated with Hamas and what they will receive in exchange for the release of hostages in the coming weeks,” said an Israeli source. “Hamas’s agreement to release more hostages depends on the answers to these questions.”
No progress has been made in the ceasefire talks in Cairo, and Israel is reaching a dead end, a source familiar with the details of the negotiations told The Jerusalem Post Saturday.
There were lots of technical discussions but no results, the source added.
Israel and mediating countries believe that only the Trump administration can perhaps break the talks out of the impasse.
“When [US Middle East envoy Steve] Witkoff arrives, things may happen. Everyone is waiting for him,” the source said.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene a meeting on the hostage deal in the next several hours with senior officials and the negotiation team, an Israeli official told the Post.
Hamas refusing Israeli proposal to extend phase one of deal
Hamas is refusing the idea of extending the first phase of the deal, Israeli officials said.
The Israeli and Qatari delegations arrived in Cairo on Thursday. The delegation is led by Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing Persons, Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch, as well as “M,” an anonymous officer from the Shin Bet. M is the former deputy of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who is reportedly no longer part of the hostage deal negotiating team.
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