The head of Israel’s Red Sea port said he could be forced to shut down operations as Ansar Allah’s Red Sea blockade of Israeli shipping has cut business by 90%. Chief executive Gideon Golber is now asking Tel Aviv for assistance to keep the port open. 

On Sunday, Golber said that Israel should offer ships a large financial incentive, $500,000, to risk transiting the Red Sea to keep the Port of Eilat open. He asserted, “You cannot let terror organizations close any route.”

In November 2023, Ansar Allah, or the Houthis, declared a blockade of Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea. Since, Golber reports the Eilat Port has lost over $1 million every month. 

Ansar Alllah says its blockade is a response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. During ceasefires between Tel Aviv and Hamas, Sanaa has halted its blockade and attacks on Israel. 

Both President Donald Trump and Joe Biden carried out extensive bombing campaigns in Yemen in an effort to force Ansar Allah to allow Israeli shipping through the Red Sea. The Houthis were able to withstand the American strikes and expanded their operations to target US Navy ships off Yemen’s coast. 

Trump first authorized strikes against Yemen on March 15. Over the next six weeks, the US would bomb over 1,000 targets in Yemen, killing hundreds of civilians. Ansar Allah responded by targeting US Navy ships in the Red Sea and American drones above Yemen. The Houthis were able to down several drones and caused a F-18 to fall off an aircraft carrier. 

In May, Trump agreed to a ceasefire with Ansar Allah that did not extend to Israel or Israeli-linked shipping. Since the ceasefire was established, the Houthis have continued to attack Israel with missiles and drones. In July, Ansar Allah attacked two cargo ships in the Red Sea, leading to the deaths of at least four crew members.