NYN | News
In a stunning and unexpected development, an Israeli official has revealed that Tel Aviv is prepared to pay large sums of money to the Houthis in exchange for lifting the naval blockade imposed on Israeli shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Gideon Golber, Director of Israel’s Eilat Port, confirmed in an interview with Globes newspaper that Israel is facing great difficulty in breaking the blockade enforced by the Houthis (Ansar Allah) on its maritime navigation through Bab al-Mandab.
Golber explained that the Israeli port is completely shut down and that Israel is willing to offer significant payments to allow its ships to pass through the strait. He described the situation as a kind of “Suez Canal barter,” emphasizing that Israel is seeking to resume navigation at any cost.
Egyptian journalist Moataz Matar aired the Israeli official’s remarks in a video broadcast last night, describing the move as “Israel paying tribute to the Houthis”—a rare concession and an admission of Israel’s submission to the power of the Houthi blockade.
These statements come amid a joint failure by the United States, Europe, and Israel to break the blockade imposed by the Houthis on Israeli maritime routes—part of their ongoing support for Gaza.
