Houthi leader warns Israel to stick to ceasefire terms

The leader of Yemen’s Houthis, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, has said his group will monitor the implementation of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and will continue its attacks on ships in the Red Sea if it is breached.

The six-week phase one of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas comes into effect on Sunday. 

In support of Hamas, the Houthis from Yemen initiated a campaign against merchant ships passing through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, targeting more than 100 ships since November 2023, leading to a major rerouting for most ships heading between Asia and Europe. The Houthis have repeatedly stated their campaign will continue until Israeli forces leave Gaza. 

Speaking with Splash earlier this week, Guy Platten, the secretary-general of the International Chamber of Shipping, stressed that the seafarers from the Galaxy Leader are not forgotten and are released as part of any sustained ceasefire deal. The Galaxy Leader, a car carrier, and its crew were hijacked by the Houthis 14 months ago. 

There have been no confirmed ship strikes by the Houthis in 2025 so far, with the militant group focusing its attacks on Israel directly with drones and missiles. Houthi military installations have come in for increased aerial attacks in recent weeks from Israeli, US, and UK planes.