cross-posted from: https://news.abolish.capital/post/19316

The strategic southern port is almost ‘completely paralyzed’ after two years of shipping disruptions

The port of Eilat, Israel’s strategic southern anchor, is “almost completely paralyzed,” Israeli media reported on 12 January, following more than two years of disruptions to Red Sea shipping lanes, attacks on vessels, and geopolitical uncertainty caused by the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF).

“Every morning, workers arrive at empty docks, ready and waiting, and the ships do not arrive,” Yediot Ahronoth reported.

“The port’s revenues, which previously reached about $74 million a year, have dropped to almost zero,” the newspaper added.

The port’s operations have been completely disrupted since November 2023, when the YAF seized ship bound for it.

At that time, port business was thriving with large shipments of automobiles from Asia, especially China, as well as products from countries like India and Australia.

In October 2024, the port handled approximately 150,000 cars. Officials considered plans for Eilat to support Israeli Mediterranean ports, such as Haifa and Ashdod, which faced threats from Hamas rockets fired from Gaza.

However, Sanaa’s intervention in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza “changed everything and managed to paralyze the southern port,” Yedioth Ahronoth revealed.

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