Is it fair for Houthi rebels to attack shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza ?
Demonization is a common tactic employed by organizations and governments when contesting Western policy.
The current discourse on the Houthi movement in Yemen suggests that its attacks against Red Sea ships are unrelated to Gaza, and even if Israel ceased hostilities, the Houthis would continue their activities.
This is not merely demonization; it also encompasses racism. British officials have consistently asserted such claims to rationalize initiating strikes without legislative consent. According to Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, the Houthis' activities "have nothing to do with the Israel-Gaza conflict."
Notwithstanding the fact that the Houthis have consistently said they are only targeting ships heading to Israel and have avoided causing any deaths—while enduring their own casualties from the US-British assaults initiated since January 12. The most their fighters have done is take ship crew members captive.
The Houthis have garnered substantial sympathy throughout the Global South, as the Red Sea strikes are perceived as a courageous, yet modest, endeavor by the underdog against an oppressive power.
Even if the Houthis are merely engaging in cynical behavior for global audiences, as opponents contend, it is difficult to envision them relinquishing that support by persistently disrupting shipping without justification following a Gaza ceasefire.
The Houthi policy has had considerable efficacy. With minimal exertion, they have compelled significant shipping corporations to circumvent the Red Sea, a route for around 12 percent of global trade. Global supply lines are becoming clogged as vessels navigate the extended route across Africa, incurring substantial additional fuel expenses, while firms explore alternative land and air routes.
The Houthi blockade and the primitive missiles targeting the Red Sea port of Eilat significantly impact Israel's economy. The Israeli central bank has projected the war's financial impact at $56 billion, with unemployment rising to 9.6 percent in the first month alone.
Meanwhile, Western language directed at the Houthis, formally referred to as Ansar Allah, is imbued with a condescending tone towards those who oppose Western hegemony, which non-Western audiences readily comprehend. This “ragtag force of religious lunatics” cannot possibly have a cause other than sowing mayhem at Iran’s bidding; this has been a particular focus of US commentary.
These themes aim to divert attention from the Houthi leaders' consistent assertions on their actions: that the strikes relate to what is happening in Gaza. Rashid al-Haddad, the viral "Houthi TikTok pirate," conveyed to prominent US streamer Hasan Piker, "The most important thing is that we stand with Palestine."
Countries that ratified the UN's Genocide Convention are obligated to prevent such atrocities. In light of the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice and Israel's intention to disregard it, the Houthis may assert their role as enforcers of international law against a rogue state.
The Biden administration has attempted to position itself as a voice of reason by exercising restraint following the commencement of Yemeni attacks in November, offering a series of warnings to de-escalate, before launching multiple deadly strikes on Yemen since January 12.
However, it is evident to those beyond the gang of Western nations safeguarding Israel that the primary interest of the US and Britain is the protection of the economy, particularly that of Israel, rather than the sanctity of human life.
They believe that Israel should possess the unrestricted capacity to conduct its military operations in Gaza in a manner that, according to their hypothesis, preserves the stature of the apartheid state, which means freedom of choice on how to end the conflict. They are unable to entertain the notion of yielding to international pressure to cease the slaughter, notwithstanding Hamas's continued presence as a political and military force capable of resisting the Israeli army.
The Western effort to portray Yemeni activities against mass murder in Gaza as unreasonable and illogical is failing miserably. The Houthis can justifiably be accused of many things, including the fact that their military actions have resulted in a great deal of random and cruel suffering for innocent civilians. And there's no denying that by embracing this global cause, they can solidify their control. But the "mad mountain" savages rhetoric is going nowhere.
The Houthis acted because of Gaza; they will stand down over Gaza.