As a ceasefire comes into effect in the Gaza Strip, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have signaled they will limit attacks in the Red Sea corridor to Israeli-allied ships. According to a report by the Associated Press, the Houthis announced through their Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center that they are “pausing sanctions” on previously targeted ships until they begin attacks in November 2023.
The rebel group reportedly plans to issue a separate military statement on Monday regarding the decision.
Claiming solidarity with the Palestinians, the Houthis — who are part of Iran’s “axis of resistance” — have launched repeated missile and drone attacks on Israel since the war in Gaza began in October 2023. They have also launched a harassment campaign against shipping. The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are severely disrupting trade routes.
Part of Iran’s “axis of resistance”, the Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks on Israel since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 and wounding 250. Others were taken hostage.
They have reportedly targeted nearly 100 merchant ships with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war, while claiming solidarity with the Palestinians.
Gaza ceasefire
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into force in Gaza on Sunday, ending 15 months of bloodshed in the coastal region. As part of the agreement, Hamas released three Israeli hostages and Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners on the first day of the ceasefire.
The ceasefire allowed Palestinians to return to bombed areas to begin rebuilding their lives, while relief trucks delivered much-needed aid.
As part of a three-phase agreement brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from central Gaza and displaced Palestinians will return to northern Gaza.
In the first phase, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages over a period of 42 days, including all women (soldiers and civilians), children and men over the age of 50. The release schedule will be such that three hostages will be brought back on the first day after the deal is implemented, followed by four more hostages on the seventh day.
After this, three hostages will be returned every week for the next four weeks. According to a report in The Times of Israel, the remaining 14 hostages will be released in the final, sixth week of the first phase.
Israel’s list included the name of Kfir Bibas, who was taken with her now four-year-old brother, Ariel, and her mother and father, Shiri and Yarden. Kfir, who was kidnapped at just 9 months old, became a symbol of the suffering of the hostages.
In return, Israel will release all Palestinian women and children under the age of 19 detained from October 7, 2023 until the end of the first phase. The total number of Palestinians released will depend on the hostages released and could be between 990 and 1,650 Palestinian captives, including men, women and children.
Negotiations on the second phase of the agreement will begin on the 16th day after the first phase and are expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, including Israeli male soldiers, a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops.
The third phase is expected to include the return of all remaining bodies and the beginning of the reconstruction of Gaza under the supervision of Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.
