SANA'A August 27. 2024 (Saba) -Yemen and its armed forces are currently imposing a naval siege on the occupying forces, aiming to halt the massacres against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
In response, Arab normalization countries are taking measures to mitigate the effects of this siege. These nations are working to provide the Nazi occupaiton with land bridges and open their ports to facilitate the delivery of goods.
Countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, and Egypt are suppressing pro-Palestine movements while simultaneously aiding the enemy's economy.
This assistance is seen as a collusion to relieve the economic pressures on Israel. Goods from China, which would normally take 50 to 60 days to arrive via sea, now reach Israel in just 20 to 25 days through a new land route.
This route has reportedly reduced transportation costs by over 80 percent compared to the sea route, according to Israeli reports.
Recent investigations have revealed that Egyptian ports have become significant supply channels for Israel during the ongoing conflict with Gaza.
Additionally, Yemeni military operations against ships bound for Israeli ports and the establishment of a land bridge—from the UAE through Saudi Arabia and Jordan to Israel—are notable.
This land route serves to supply Israel with essential goods and materials, effectively bypassing the Yemeni-imposed naval blockade.
So-called Zionist Minister of Transportation Miri Regev recently took pride in showcasing her visit to the Mundra Port in India. In a video posted online, she highlighted that goods are exported from this port to Israel via several Arab countries.
The video, featuring the largest port in India and containers bound for the UAE before reaching the occupied territories through a land route, sparked significant anger in the Arab world.
This led to large protests demanding the prevention of export trucks from passing through to the occupying entity and calling for the cessation of the land bridge supplying Israel with goods from Dubai's ports.
Meanwhile, an investigation by the "Arabi Post" news website has tracked the activity of 19 ships, monitoring their sea routes through specialized maritime data.
The findings indicate that these ships primarily traveled back and forth between two Israeli ports and five Egyptian ports, all located on the Mediterranean Sea.
The investigation revealed that during the conflict in Gaza, these ships made numerous trips between Egypt and Israel. They would dock in Egyptian and Israeli ports for one to three days before heading to unload their cargo. Afterward, they would wait for a similar period at their destination ports before returning to their original departure points.
Additionally, the investigation showed that while Egyptian ports were not among the most frequented destinations for these ships in 2022 and 2023, their activity became increasingly concentrated between Israel and Egypt during the Gaza conflict.
Official data recently released by the Israeli Bureau of Statistics also indicates a significant increase in trade between Egypt and Israel during the aggression on Gaza.
Egypt doubled its imports from Israel during this period. From October 2023 to July 31, 2024, Egypt imported goods worth $331.6 million from Israel, compared to $106.8 million during the same months in 2022 and 2023.
In July of last year, the value of Israeli exports to Egypt peaked at $30.6 million, while the same month also saw the highest rate of Israeli imports to Egypt, amounting to $45.4 million.
Regarding the land bridge intended to supply the Occupation with food and basic materials as an alternative to the Red Sea corridor and to bypass the maritime blockade imposed by Sana'a, Israeli sources have described it as a "quietly bypassing the embargo decisions by Sanaa."
According to the Israeli website "Walla," the first commercial shipments arrived in Israel via this new land route. The bridge extends from the UAE to Tel Aviv, passing through Saudi Arabia and Jordan before reaching the port of Haifa. This route, which was established in response to ongoing Yemeni threats against ships heading to Israel, is said to alleviate Israel's logistical challenges and circumvent the Yemeni blockade.
"Walla" reported that the initial stages of this land transport line, starting from Dubai ports and passing through Saudi Arabia and Jordan, have been successful. Ten trucks carrying goods have already arrived in Israel from the Arabian Gulf ports.
Israeli media revealed that the Israeli company "Trakant" signed an agreement with the Emirati company "Puretrans" for logistics services at the end of last year. This deal initiated the operation of trucks transporting goods from Dubai, through Saudi Arabia and Jordan, to Haifa.
The CEO of "Trakant" stated that this new route saves more than 80 percent of the cost of sea transport. Meanwhile, the company "Mintfield" confirmed that numerous Israeli companies are collaborating with firms in Dubai, Bahrain, and Jordan to provide this shipping service.
The enemy's media reported that Egypt is set to join the land bridge initiative, facilitating the transport of goods from Gulf countries to Israel. This measure aims to bypass the naval blockade imposed by Yemeni forces in the Red Sea, affecting maritime traffic to and from the occupied territories.
A recent report by the American "Associated Press" highlighted the significant impact of Yemeni military operations in the Red Sea and the ongoing war in Gaza on the Israeli economy. The report noted that, after nearly 11 months of conflict with Hamas, the Israeli economy is facing substantial difficulties. The ongoing attacks on Gaza show no signs of ending, and there is concern about potential escalation into a broader conflict.
The agency added: "Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to downplay the situation by suggesting that the economic damage is only temporary, the ongoing conflict with Hamas—the bloodiest and most destructive war ever between Israel and Hamas—has severely impacted thousands of small businesses and eroded international confidence in an economy once known for its dynamism and entrepreneurship."
Some senior economists have commented that "a ceasefire is the best way to stop the damage."
The newly approved land bridge, sanctioned by the Israeli Ministry of Defense and government, is expected to offer a faster alternative to the Suez Canal for importing goods. This route is designed to bypass the Yemeni threat, which forces ships to detour around the Cape of Good Hope, extending the journey by up to three weeks.
Notably, Yemeni attacks on shipping have led major companies such as Denmark's Maersk, Germany's Hapag-Lloyd, France's CMA CGM, and Italy-Switzerland's MSC to suspend their voyages through the Red Sea "until further notice" or "until the passage becomes safe," according to their statements.
Additionally, the ongoing conflict in Gaza has seen Yemen impose a blockade on the port of Eilat. This blockade has compelled Israel to shift its supply lines to the port of Haifa on the Mediterranean Sea. As a result, consumer prices and business costs have risen, contributing to a decline in confidence in the Israeli economy and its financial markets.
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