Yedioth Ahronoth: Yemen’s strikes push Umm al-Rashrash port to collapse

QUDS, Jan, 12 (YPA) – In a development described as the most dangerous since its establishment, the Israeli port of Umm al-Rashrash, known as Eilat, is facing an unprecedented crisis, reflecting the scale of economic and logistical losses incurred by the Israeli occupation entity. These Yemeni operations in the Red Sea led to almost complete paralysis in one of its most important southern maritime gateways.

The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper revealed on Monday that the port has experienced from an almost complete halt for more than two years. Workers arrive daily without any ships docking, while revenues have collapsed from about 240 million shekels a year to almost zero, despite limited government assistance that has failed to stabilize its financial situation.

The newspaper noted that the crisis has worsened due to the failure of the Federation of Trade Unions to fulfill its promises of additional financial support, as well as the decision by the Ministries of Finance and Transport to refuse to extend the port’s operating concession, prompting the port’s management to threaten legal action against the government.

According to the report, the decisive blow dated back to November 2023, when Sanaa forces seized control of a ship bound for Eilat. This incident led to a complete halt in port activities, compounded by the withdrawal of major shipping companies and mounting financial pressures.

Batya Zaafarani, deputy head of finance at the port, acknowledged that shipping Giants ‘NYK and ZiM’ had suspended shipments for several months. She stated, “We waited for government intervention, but after three months we began to consider the fate of the workers,” emphasizing that government support served only as a temporary measure for a deep structural crisis.

Avi Hourmaru, chairman of the port’s Board of directors, expressed frustration at the government’s abandonment, stating that “Yemenis decide whether Israel has a southern port or not.” His statements represent an unprecedented recognition of the impact of the Yemeni operations on both the sovereign decisions of “Israel” and its economy.

This collapse comes amid a naval blockade that Sanaa forces have imposed on ships linked to the Israeli occupation since November 2023, which has paralyzed commercial traffic and drained the port’s resources, as part of Yemeni operations in support of the Palestinian people.

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