Report: Eilat Port Faces "Worst Crisis in Its History"

SadaNews: Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that Eilat port on the Red Sea coast is experiencing the most severe crisis in its history, as attacks by the Houthis (Ansar Allah) that have persisted for more than two years have led to its near-total disruption.

The newspaper added that revenues, which previously reached 240 million shekels (about 76 million dollars) annually, have dropped to nearly zero.

It continued: "Every morning, workers arrive at empty docks, ready and prepared, but the ships do not come."

It stated that "state assistance to the port has reached 15 million shekels (over 4.5 million dollars), and the Histadrut (Israel's largest labor union) promised an additional 5 million shekels (around 1.5 million dollars) to avoid laying off workers, but this assistance has not arrived."

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the ministries of finance and transportation recently announced that they would not extend the concession to the port operators due to non-compliance with the required conditions.

In contrast, the port management intends, according to the newspaper, to fight this decision, "demanding that the state return to its senses."

Following the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip after the 'Storming of Al-Aqsa' operation on October 7, 2023, the Houthis launched a series of attacks in support of the Palestinian resistance against Israel, which in turn responded with numerous strikes on multiple sites in Yemen.

Eilat port is considered a strategic port and Israel's only outlet to the Red Sea as well as its gateway to Asia and the Far East, making it of significant economic and military importance, which has driven the Israeli authorities to ensure its development.